By: Fatou Krubally
The Minister of Interior has attributed weak border patrol operations to budgetary constraints and limited mobility, telling the National Assembly that inadequate resources are hampering effective monitoring of cross-border livestock movements.
Responding to questions from lawmakers during debate on a transhumance report on Monday, Abdoulie Sanyang said although joint patrols by the Gambia Police Force and the Immigration Department were ongoing, operational challenges remained significant.
“One of the factors limiting our capacity is mobility and the associated operational cost,” he said, noting that annual budgetary allocations for vehicles often cover the purchase of only one or two units.
He discloses that most police vehicles are currently procured through alternative revenue streams, including bank escort services, while earnings from peacekeeping missions — previously a major source of funding — have declined considerably.
“Any time we increase our budget request for vehicles, it is cut,” the minister said.
Despite the constraints, he announced that the Immigration Department has graduated its first batch of specialized border patrol officers to strengthen surveillance.
The officers will focus on monitoring all forms of cross-border movements, particularly during seasonal pastoral migration.
The minister acknowledged that while recognised entry points are equipped with modern record-keeping technology, irregular crossing points continue to pose serious challenges, partly mitigated through physical patrols.
On regional cooperation, he said his ministry would engage the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to coordinate discussions with Senegal and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to enhance harmonized cross-border pastoralism protocols.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the Gambia Police Force to investigate and prosecute offences linked to transhumance, including livestock theft, bush burning and violent attacks.
As lawmakers called for stronger enforcement, the minister maintained that security agencies are prepared to support the Ministries of Environment and Agriculture in implementing their mandates, subject to the availability of adequate resources.
The outcome of the debate is expected to guide further policy direction as the government works towards establishing a comprehensive national framework for transhumance management
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