Copyright 2002 British Broadcasting Corporation BBC Monitoring Africa - Political Supplied by BBC Worldwide Monitoring July 16, 2002, Tuesday LENGTH: 314 words HEADLINE: Senegal: Truckers prevent Gambian minister from crossing border post SOURCE: Radio France Internationale, Paris, in French 1230 gmt 16 Jul 02 Text of report by Radio France Internationale on 16 July There is another bone of contention between The Gambia and Senegal. The Gambian authorities, last week, decided to double transportation fares on the ferry, which crosses the Senegal River to The Gambia. The increase affects Senegalese vehicles only. As a result, Senegalese transport owners immediately blocked the way on the Trans-Gambian Highway, which runs down from Senegal and crosses The Gambia. Of course, this situation has adversely affected diplomatic relations between Dakar and Banjul. These relations were already strained notably as a result of the Casamance issue. Correspondent Olivier Roger has the details: Roger Actually, what happened between Senegal and The Gambia is called a diplomatic incident. Yesterday morning, Gambian Foreign Minister Babucar Blaise Jagne wanted to drive across the Senegalese border, but the transport owners, who have been boycotting The Gambia since 13 July, prevented him from crossing. This story sums up the atmosphere currently prevailing between Banjul and Dakar. Gambia's decision to double ferry transportation fare, which affects only Senegalese, is seen as an act of discrimination, and the transport owners decided to go round the Gambian territory. This strategy to go round the territory is also the official position adopted by the Senegalese Government. To this effect, Dakar will soon put in place along the Kaolack-Tambakounda highway tax-free gas stations for those using it. This Senegal-Gambia row comes up in a context already difficult as a result notably of the Casamance conflict. The Senegalese Army strongly suspects Gambia of being complacent towards the rebels, and it has decided to position along the southern border to prevent the infiltration of elements of the Movement of Casamance Democratic Forces from The Gambia. LOAD-DATE: July 16, 2002 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~