The recent rebel insurgence in the Senegalese southern region of Casamance has hindered economic activities in the border between Senegal and The Gambia, where people depend heavily on cross border trade to make end needs meet.

According to some traders from the troubled region who spoke recently to this reporter, since the crisis began few weeks ago, they have been finding it very difficult to travel and to sell their goods or transact business across the once lucrative trade border region. Alhagie Cham, a firewood trader who used to ply the region with trucks load of wood, told this reporter that his business has seriously been affected, adding that he had D30,000 worth of firewood in the Cassamance Forest he could not transport to The Gambia for sale because of the insurgence.

“We the business people who depend on cross border trade are seriously feeling the heat now, as our businesses are in standstill due to the war in Casamance,” said Fatou Jobe, a charcoal trader. “My family entirely depend on me, and now my business is not operating. We find it very difficult to survive,” said Malick Sarr, another trader.

Other business people who deal in timber and other valuable goods expressed similar sentiments. It is estimated that more than 6,000 refugees have entered The Gambia in recent weeks due to the recent escalation of the Casamance rebellion.

Meanwhile, the price of timber is said to have increased tremendously, while the prices of firewood and charcoal are on the increase.