The foreign ministers of Senegal and the Republic of the Gambia yesterday hold talks, amid looming diplomatic tension between the two countries.
The talks came following a long acrimonious between the two countries accusing one another of sabotage; however, the key issue of contention was centered on the impounded Iranian arms destined for Banjul.
Mamadou Tangara, Gambian Minister of Foreign Affairs came to Dakar for a two day working visit in a bit to strengthening the bonds of friendship and cooperation between the Gambia and Senegal.
The Senegalese foreign minister Mr. Madikey Niang told journalist the visit of his Gambian counterpart is not motivated by the question of the Iranian weapons, instead it is meant to finalize the implementation of the permanent Senegambia Secretariat (Secretariat) as agreed in the peace deal signed by both parties early last year.
In what turns to be ironical to the Senegambia public, Mr. Niang said ‘I maintain a permanent consultation with my colleague and young brother Mamadou Tangara ", asserting that there is no shape of clouds in our relations and everything is going well.’’
The Senegalese foreign minister said he took the initiative upon himself to invite his Gambian to Dakar. When asked why President Jammeh has not been visiting Dakar so often? Mr. Niang noted that Jammeh visited in April last year during, adding that he (President Jammeh) has always instructed his foreign minister to extend his regards to his Senegalese counterpart President Abdoulie Wade when ever he cannot attend a region or sub -regional meeting.
He recalled that following the last joint committee meeting we agreed that we can set up a mechanism to follow-up and evaluate all the measures taken in area of security, the construction of the bridge to facilitate free movement of people from mainland Senegal to Casamance ,with regular consultation with both Ministers.
For his part Mamadou Tangara Gambian foreign minister said his visit is meant to strengthen ties between the two countries. Mr. Tangara denied Gambia’s involvement in the Crisis; he revealed Gambia has been playing a key to resolve the crisis between MFDC rebels in Senegalese Southern region of Casamance and the Senegalese government.
‘The two countries have no problem at all it is a matter misunderstanding and the even if the two leaders have problem, but people in both still remain united,’ he stated.