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.
>
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