A new twist in the affair between Senegalese lorry drivers and Gambian Customs: At the end of a visit to Keur Ayib, Senoba, a meeting with the Senegalese ambassador to The Gambia and the deputy director of Gambian Customs, Gora Khouma, General Secretary of the Union of Senegalese Truck Drivers affiliated to the Cnts, decreed that the strike would continue until the tag system was completely lifted, despite the announcement that the system was cancelled by the customs authorities.

Everything has come to a standstill: for more than 10 days, several Senegalese lorries have been parked at Keur Ayib and Sénoba, protesting the new system of paying 16,000 CFA francs each time they cross into Gambian territory. « This situation is unacceptable », says Gora Khouma, Secretary General of the Union of Senegalese Truck Drivers. He continued: I met the Senegalese ambassador to The Gambia to explain the problems faced by truck drivers at Keur Ayib and Sénoba. He told us to go to the Customs Department to meet the deputy director and raise the issue of the tags imposed on Senegalese drivers, which cost 16,000 francs per crossing. We’re not transporting goods through customs, we’re transporting Senegalese goods, we’re in our own country, because Keur Ayib is a corridor. So, we’re leaving our country to go south and come back ».

Migrants drift from the coasts of Senegal to the Caribbean

“Added to this we have police harassment and illegal deductions, » continued Gora Khouma. « We also have a problem with illegal deductions by Gambian customs, known as the 4,000 franc visa. We also have a lot of police stations on the corridor that are harassing people. We have reported these to the authorities », he added.

At the end of the meeting with the deputy director of Gambian Customs, the beginnings of a solution were found: suspension of the 4,000 F tax on the collection visa. But the problem of tags costing 16,000 francs has not yet been resolved. « He told us to wait for the return of the Gambian Minister of Finance, who was on a mission to Senegal », noted the Secretary General. He said the strike will continue until all their grievances are fully addressed.

By Seydou Tamba CISSE / Correspondant

  • Translation by Ndey T. SOSSEH