With less than a week to go before the crucial presidential polls in Senegal, Moustapha Niasse, one of the candidates has raised the issue of Gambian ferries amidst a renewed debate on Senegal’s foreign policy.

Niasse who toured the southern province of Cassamance including Ziguinchor and Kolda said “there is an urgent need to consult our Gambian brothers with regards to the issue of the ferries linking river Gambia.

“The erstwhile Senegalese Prime Minister said “The Gambia is a sovereign country which has absolute prerogatives on the use and management of their ferries. However, it is obvious that our Senegalese countrymen are key partners to Gambians in the sense that a lot of customers and commuters of the ferries are Senegalese nationals. Besides, it is an obligation for the two countries to establish healthy relationship based on dialogue and constant consultation,” Niasse explained.

According to him, “Senegal and The Gambia must discuss on the way to make crossing easier for the Senegalese plying the routes between the North and the South of Senegal. And this is not possible if we do not associate with the Gambia”, he said. Moustapha Niasse added that “the current Senegalese Government policy on the issue is not based on mutual trust and interest. If I am elected I will immediately show the practicability of my views to our Gambian counterparts.

It must be clear between us that, Senegal cannot claim a single Cfa Franc from the profits generated by the ferries. As I said earlier, the ferries are Gambian properties. Notwithstanding, we should be in a position to ask for certain concessions that are essential to the comfort of the Senegalese plying the routes between the North and the South of Senegal,” Niasse told thousands of his supporters in Ziguinchor.

Moustapha Niasse recalled how crucial his proposed consultations with The Gambia are essential especially with the bad conditions of the route linking Dakar to Ziguinchor via Kaolack, Tambacounda and Kolda. He further promised to provide Cassamance with a new boat that will replace Le Joola which sunk off the Gambian coast on September 26, 2002. He however, blamed the Wade’s Government for the tragedy.

Many in Cassamance condemned Niasse for using the Le Joola incident for his political ends. Cassamance people believed that Niasse was part of the government that he now criticizes. Macky Sall, President Wade’s Campaign Director and also the current Senegalese Prime Minister challenged Niasse to prove his allegations. Macky Sall also “warned the person of Cassamance not to buy the ideas of somebody who has not done anything positive for their region even when he was in the Government as Prime Minister for nearly two years.”