I agree with Malanding that Senegal and Gambia need to work more closely than they have recently done.  This is in the best interest of both coutries and their peoples.  As far as I am can see Gambia has a lot more to gain from such regional cooperation than Senegal.  As Malanding said, Senegals biggest aim here is easy access between northern Senegal and Cassamance via a brigde on the River Gambia.  Gambia can provide this and actually gain tremendously from it via tolls and other duties.  Gambia needs access to Senegals bigger market for goods and services.  For Gambia to get eaiser access to the sub-region it needs Senegals cooperation as we are surrounded by Senegal on all sides for land access to other countries.

Unfortunately, the two governments in both Banjul and Dakar seem to be lost in in their own personal/political games without regard to the needs of their people.

Ansu



on 3/1/2011 Malanding wrote:

Buharry,
I understand your fears but I read into things differently. I believe
Gambian musicians problem is a classic market penetration problem. The
Super Eagles and  Laba Sosseh and Father Mose all did very well in
Senegal at a time when Ndagga and Mbalax were not established genre.
Unfortunately for almost 30 yrs that followed the return of the Ifang
bondi few Gambians (with the exception of Father Mose) were visible
during the most formative years of the Mbalax genre. The absence made it
possible for Senegal to claim ownership and Gambia marginalized.

Should we fail to learn from this experience, and align our economic
interest with that of Senegal's we run the same risk of being
marginalized. The fact is Senegal is  our only neighbor,  with land area
20 times The Gambia and 8 times the population leaves us little choice.
It is the proverbial "all roads lead to Senegal". On economic front
Senegal is Gambia's number 1 export market. The point is that Senegal
needs easy access and they need it now. Playing hard-to-get in the name
of territorial integrity is misinformed. We can not afford to live in a
Senegal that does owe Gambia favors.


Malanding





On 2/28/2011 6:26 PM, M. Gassama wrote:
> Hi Malanding!
> Thanks for your wise perspectives. In an ideal situation, it would be
> satisfactory to go by all your suggestions. However in realpolitik, it
> would be foolhardy to rely on neighbourly goodwill as has been
> demonstrated numerous times including the post-Senegambia Confederation
> example you gave. You wrote: "If we can afford Senegal the access they
> so badly need without strings attached, it would be hard to imagine how
> they deny us access to market market we so badly need". If we take the
> cultural aspect as an example, I guess by now Pa Omar Jack, Sambou
> Susso and many Gambian artists would be performing at Senegalese
> independence and other important occasions and their videos and their
> music would be staring at and blasting us through RTS, WALF, 2STV, TFM
> and the radio stations given the total access Gambia has granted for
> decades. In an ideal situation, a transport union would not be able to
> force a border closure with devastating effects on the economy of a
> neigbouring country.
>
> We all understand that Senegal and Gambia are one people and the
> ultimate aim would be the removal of any barriers not only within
> Senegambia and Ecowas but throughout Africa. We all understand the
> colonial designs regarding the boundaries created to suit the
> imperialists' interests. We all understand the need to do away with the
> colonial legacies left by the imperialists especially regarding the
> division of the continent into the states meant to suit their
> interests. The current reality is that there are however two countries
> with two separate governments each mandated to look after the interests
> of its citizens and maintain its territorial integrity. It would be
> great to co-operate and embark upon projects for the mutual benefit of
> both countries. This should however be followed by enforceable checks
> and balances that would make it impossible for any country to
> unilaterally decide to punish the other. Remember that there were
> agreements regarding trade and other areas of co-operation prior to the
> border closures. They didn't help though when the crisis arose.
> Remember the football crisis?
>
> My belief is that Gambia should unilaterally finance the construction
> of any road, bridge or other
> infrastructure within its borders. Jointly financing any
> infrastructural project within its borders no matter how beneficial to
> other countries is in my opinion not wise. Unilaterally constructing
> these projects doesn't mean it would not allow access to others. It
> would mean utilising and getting revenue from it. The importance of
> such infrastucture can serve as a deterrent in case others decide to
> exploit the country's weaknesses. Remember the nuclear deterrent during
> the cold war? Thanks and have a good evening.
> Buharry.
>
>
>
>
>
> ----Original Message----
> From: [log in to unmask]
> Date: 2011-02-28 0:51
> To:<[log in to unmask]>
> Subj: Re: Senegal and Gambia engage in tactical regimes salvation.
>
> Buharry,
> I think Senegalo-Gambian relations should not be seen as a zero-sum
> game. Both have comparative advantages that could easily complement one
> another in a global world. If we can afford Senegal the access they so
> badly need without strings attached, it would be hard to imagine how
> they deny us access to market market we so badly need.  So folks in the
> business sector will tell you the economic  boom in the 1980s had a lot
> to do with the Senegambian Confederation.  A few short years into the
> Confederation, Banjul established itself as re-export capital of the
> sub-region; Farafenni almost doubled in size and population and the
> loomos (regional market) made their mark.  All thanks to easy access to
> Senegalese and greater West Africa  market. Unfortunately during the
> decade following the dissolution, Banjul Port is no where to compete,
> Farafenni become the only town that saw stagnation and  population
> decline. What that tells me is that given the opportunity Banjul Port
> with limited bureaucracy can effectively out-compete Dakar. Same goes
> to
> our business folk. Banjul's small size and easy going attitude are all
> advantages over grand Dakar.
>
> As far as the leverage over the river goes, its only useful as long as
> Senegal has not device means around it. Any day Senegal can go around
> us, thats the day Gambia will effectively become landlocked!  Remember
> border closures mean  2 extra days of inconvenience for Senegalese
> travelers but total loss for their Gambian counterparts.
>
> If you ask me I would suggest we go a step further and:
> Propose setting up  Senegalo-Gambian Ports Authority. A semi-government
> agency responsible for TranGambia ferry crossings and bridges. With
> 60%-40% Gambian-Senegalese ownership.
>
> Establish a regional/international airport at Basse. One that will
> serve
> all of eastern  Senegambia, the Guineas and Western Mali. We allow
> Dakar to  handle cross-Atlantic air travels and customs,  Banjul and
> Basse airport  acting as regional/domestic hubs with facilities to
> inter-line luggage. I believe such a facility  and good road connection
> to eastern Guinean and Mali,  Basse can beat Tambacounda  or Kayes.
>
> Open border policy beyond ECOWAS protocol. Whatever needs to moved
> should be unconditionally allowed to move. There should be no boarders
> period. If Europe can do so can we.
> At the end of the day it is the economic the potential of locations
> that
> will matter and not the politics.
>
> Malanding
>
>
> On 2/27/2011 12:25 PM, M. Gassama wrote:
>> Hi Ansu!
>> Senegalese foreign policy is carried out in a planned and strategic
>> manner. The most important thing Senegal wants from Gambia is to
> build
>> the highway that would cut through Gambia making it easier to access
>> Casamance and other parts of the south. All the overtures and
>> overlooking of stuff is just meant to further the aim of getting the
>> highway built as a joint project. While the highway might be of
> immense
>> benefit to Senegal, Gambia doesn't gain as much. Jointly building the
>> highway would be a grave stategic error on the part of Gambia because
>> it would mean giving up the only card the country has in its
> relations
>> with Senegal. Senegal has never been shy about using its strategic
>> cards whenever there is a problem between the two counties with
>> devastating implications for the Gambian economy etc. The latest
>> example was the closure of its borders a few years ago leading to
>> shortages of essential commodities such as cooking gas, nearly
> bringing
>> sectors such as the restaurant business to a halt. Should the two
>> countries jointly finance the building of the highway and there
> arises
>> a crisis between them and Senegal decides to use the various
> leverages
>> against Gambia, Gambia would not be able to unilaterally close its
> side
>> of the highway without incurring the risk of an invasion or some
> other
>> serious action. I hope the Gambia Government is aware of this fact
> and
>> should the highway be built, it should unilaterally finance it to
> keep
>> the independence and integrity of the country intact. Thanks and have
> a
>> good evening.
>> Buharry.
>>
>>
>> ----Original Message----
>> From: [log in to unmask]
>> Date: 2011-02-26 22:27
>> To:<[log in to unmask]>
>> Subj: Re: Senegal and Gambia engage in tactical regimes salvation.
>>
>> What is deal with Wade and the Senegalese gov't?  Why do they seem to
>> not have a clue how to deal with Jammeh.  This guy does not know
>> "muslaha".  They seem to be always falling for his lies and promises.
>> This is the most unreliable guy they can ever deal with.  As the
> saying
>> goes how can you ask the fox to guard the hen house?  Jammeh has
> being
>> supporting the MFDC rebels and everyone knows this.  Senegal seems to
>> be more upset with Iran than with Jammeh about this arms trafficking
>> affair...duh.  I wonder how Senegal thinks the weapons get to the
> MFDC
>> rebels -- direct from Iran?
>>
>> Do you all think that Senegal is laying a trap for Jammeh?  As far as
> I
>> am concerned, this whole affair between Jammeh and Wade does not make
>> sense.
>>
>> Ansu
>>
>> =====
>> Haruna Darbo said>>
>>
>> Mixed-patrols to temporarily assure mutual survival of Yahya and
> Wade.
>> They explained away the arms and munitions supply to the MFDC via
>> Kanilai Farms as consignment for the internal security of Gambia.
>>
>>
>> Haruna. There is no need for the mixed patrols now because the MFDC
> is
>> now totally (temporarily) installed in Gambia. Duh!!!
>>
>> Courtesy: RFI / AFRIBONE-CN
>>
>> Sénégal/Gambie
>>
>> Le Sénégal et la Gambie renforcent ensemble la sécurité à la
> frontière
>> casamançaise
>> Le Sénégal et la Gambie ont décidé de raffermir leurs liens en
>> organisant des patrouilles mixtes à la frontière casamançaise. Un
> geste
>> symbolique annoncé le 24 février 2011, au lendemain de la rupture des
>> relations diplomatique entre le Sénégal et l?Iran." Nous nous sommes
>> engagés à faire des patrouilles communes le long de nos frontières.
> Ces
>> patrouilles vont veiller à ce que la Gambie ne puisse être le refuge
>> pour les gens du MFDC mais pour qu?aussi d?autres personnes qui sont
>> engagées dans une déstabilisation de la Gambie ne puissent trouver
>> refuge au Sénégal.(...)" a déclaré le ministre sénégalais des
> Affaires
>> étrangères, Madické Niang. Cette mesure est prise alors même que
> Banjul
>> a avoué, selon Madické Niang, s?être approvisionné en armes auprès de
>> la République islamique d?Iran en 2005. «  Ces armes, affirme le
>> ministre, n?étaient destinées qu?à assurer la sécurité de la Gambie
> ».
>> Or pendant longtemps, les observateurs ont soupçonné la Gambie de
>> soutenir les rebelles indépendantistes de Casamance. Mais aujourd?hui
>> les deux pays voisins affirment vouloir aller de l?avant dans leurs
>> relations. RFI.fr.

¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤
To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface
at: http://listserv.icors.org/archives/gambia-l.html

To Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to: http://listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?S1=gambia-l
To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to:
[log in to unmask]
¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤