By Kemo Kanyi
The leader of opposition United Democratic Party (UDP), Ousainu Darboe, has called on President Adama Barrow to directly engage his Senegalese counterpart over the border dispute.
Darboe says Barrow needs to directly engage President Bassirou Diomaye Faye with the aim of resolving the ongoing border dispute affecting farmers in communities along the Gambia-Senegal border.
Speaking at a political rally in Kiang Jiffarong on Saturday, Mr. Darboe expressed concern over reports that Senegalese authorities had instructed some Gambian farmers to stop cultivating farmland where crops had already been planted.
He warned that the development could jeopardize the livelihoods of the affected farmers during the current farming season.
“When these complaints were made, I don’t think President Barrow should send anyone to represent him in the dialogue. If he cannot meet President Diomaye Faye face to face, he should call him directly. I believe he can convince President Diomaye Faye more than any of his ministers,” Mr. Darboe remarked.
The UDP leader says President Barrow should personally engage in efforts to resolve the matter if he is committed to addressing the concerns of the affected communities.
He noted that the farmers had been cultivating the land they traditionally regarded as theirs and associated with The Gambia, while clarifying that he was not making a determination on the ownership of the disputed territory.
Mr. Darboe said the immediate priority should be to protect the livelihoods of farmers while discussions on the boundary issue continued.
He appealed to the Senegalese authorities to allow the affected farmers to continue cultivating their crops until the end of the harvesting season, while both countries pursue dialogue on the border demarcation.
“I am appealing to President Diomaye Faye to instruct the authorities to stop what they are doing to Gambian farmers, and let us discuss the border issue after the cropping season,” he said.
Mr. Darboe added that the longstanding relations between The Gambia and Senegal should guide efforts to resolve the dispute peacefully, stressing that people-to-people diplomacy remained essential in maintaining the close ties between the two neighboring countries.
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