The Foreign Affairs minister of the Republic of Senegal has reaffirmed the commitment of the presidents of The Gambia and Senegal towards the consolidation and strengthening of the bond of relationship and cooperation that binds the two countries and their peoples. 

Madicke Niang was speaking in an interview with reporters Friday evening at State House shortly after holding talks with the president of the Republic, His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh. “I come here on a short visit on the directives of President Wade so as to strengthen the ties between The Gambia and Senegal because we all know that the two countries are one and this is what my president asked me to reiterate to his counterpart, President Jammeh,” he explained. He added: “My president also asked me to tell President Jammeh that he [Wade] is very happy with the strong delegation led by Vice President Njie-Saidy that he sent recently to Senegal during the opening of our grand theater and to thank President Jammeh for that.”

While maintaining that The Gambia and Senegal are the same country just like a “teeth and tongue in the mouth which are bound to crush on each other” Niang assured that they are ever determined to solve those problems and strengthen the bond of relationship that binds the two people. He disclosed that he and the Gambia’s Foreign minister, Mammadou Tangara are working very closely to make the ties more cordial, better than it is now for the benefit of the two countries. The Senegalese Foreign minister further averred that the two presidents have a very good view for better relations, and have encouraged the two Foreign ministers to set up a Joint Commission and to work towards the strengthening of the already existing Consultative Commission, which he said is being headed by the vice president of The Gambia and the Prime Minister of Senegal.

“What is left is to set up a permanent secretariat between the two countries and Ambassador Dodou Jobe has been already been identified to lead the secretariat. If this is set up, Ambassador Dodou will do his utmost best to see that they solve any eventualities that may arise,” he stated. Niang further told reporters that his closed-door meeting with President Jammeh also centered on broadening the cooperation between the two countries, especially in social sectors such as education, economics and so on for the advancement of the two countries. 

Advice
When asked what his advice was with regards to relations between the two countries, Madicke Niang said: “Any individual from these two countries whoever thinks you can bring problem between these two countries, Allah will not allow you because these are two countries with one population,” he stressed. He admitted that Senegalese nationals are living peacefully in The Gambia, something he said is always confirmed to him anytime he meets his fellow countrymen here.

He added: “Anyone Senegalese you see has a relative in this country[Gambia] and any Gambian also has a relative in Senegal. So it is only peace that can reign between these two. But anyone – whether trade union, driver or transport union who thinks you can bring problem between these two countries, let you know that it will not happen.”