The Gambia authorities have promised to use diplomacy channel to resolve Transit Trade Barriers between Mali and Senegal during a meeting in Banjul.
Mamburry Njie, Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs told the Malian delegation that it is a very sad situation that they are still encountering the blockage at the borders.
“I think in the spirit of the ECOWAS protocols, this blockage should have been a history now. No country will gain out of blockage in this century,” the Finance Minister told the delegation.
He said any attempt to block such transit is very meiosis and unfortunate but they will still use diplomatic channel to be able to resolve this transit trade barriers amicably.
He urged the two countries to continue deepen their business partnership in The Gambia, while The Gambia government will do everything possible to provide them the conducive environment and also persuade other countries that the trade relationship the country wants to build in the interest of ECOWAS. Because such blockage is a major bottleneck and it will not help trade relationship with the three countries.
Yankuba Darboe, Commissioner General of The Gambia Revenue Authority expressed dissatisfaction over the negative attitude of the Senegalese misbehavior in causing this transit trade barrier on frequent basis.
He said Senegal has no rights to give authorization to do business with countries of our choice.
According to the Commissioner General, this is unbelievable and unacceptable, due to the fact that the Gambia has signed all the ECOWAS protocols.
The commissioner General also alleged that Senegal has signed the ECOWAS protocols but woefully failed to respect it.
He recalled that two months ago about 104 loaded truck with fuel from Gam-petroleum heading to Mali were blocked by the Senegalese security for three weeks at the border which was unsafe, as anything can happened. In addition to that, he pointed out that another 21 trucks were delay at the depot due to unnecessary tariff barriers which is unacceptable “Gambia has the rights to do business with any countries of their choice”
“I am confidence that eventually we will overcome the obstacle, but it takes two of us to our commitment dedication and insistent to ensure that we continue to use the road. We believe that certain interest groups are causing this obstacle that’s why a unilateral action will not help to solve the problem but we will use diplomacy to resolve the matters,” he assured.
He therefore called on the Malians to exercise patience, and with tolerance surely the problem will be a thing of the past between the three countries.