The 4th Session of the Gambia/Senegal Joint Ministerial Commission ended on Saturday at the Kairaba Beach Hotel. The two-day meeting, that brought together experts from The Gambia and   Senegal , served as an opportunity to address recurrent problems that the two countries encountered during the past two years. In the face of contentions that derailed the spirit of implementing previous bilateral agreements, this move by the two Heads of State will help to consolidate peace and security within the Senegambian region.

Considering that The Gambia and Senegal have a long common history, Crispin Grey-Johnson, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and National Assembly Matters and Dr Cheikh Tidiane Gadio, Senior Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, were instrumental in helping to overcome the main stumbling-blocks. The three committees embraced issues, such as trade, customs, transport, environment, agriculture, forestry, wildlife, fisheries , education, energy, gender, culture, security and defence, the Senegalo-Gambian Permanent Secretariat, immigration, health and tourism.

Below we reproduce the full text of the final communiqué, signed by Dr Cheikh T Gadio, Senior Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, on behalf of the Republic of Senegal and Hon. Crispin Grey-Johnson, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and National Assembly Matters, on behalf of the Republic of The Gambia :

  ‘‘In accordance with the directives of the two Heads of State to strengthen the relations between the two countries and peoples, the 4th Session of the Joint Ministerial Commission between the Republic of The Gambia and the Republic of Senegal convened in Banjul on the 1st and 2nd November 2007.

The Gambian delegation was led by Hon. Crispin GREY-JOHNSON, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and National Assembly Matters while the Senegalese delegation was headed by His Excellency Dr. Cheikh Tidiane GADIO, Senior Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The list of the members of two delegations is attached in annex 1.

The two delegations discussed issues of mutual concern in three different Committees:

1. Committee 1: Trade, Customs, Transport:

2. Committee 2: Environment, Agriculture, Forestry, Wildlife, Fisheries,       Education, Energy, Gender issues and Culture ;

3. Committee 3: Security and Defence, the Senegalo-Gambian Permanent Secretariat, Immigration, Health and Tourism.

 

Trade, Customs and Transport

On the issue of Trade, The Gambia and Senegal have agreed to exchange information on trade matters. A Draft Trade Agreement between the two countries was submitted by The Gambia to the Senegalese Authorities and their reaction will be forthcoming in due course.

Regarding cooperation in Customs issues, it was agreed and recommended that a meeting be convened between the two Customs Institutions as soon as possible in order to give adequate response to pertinent matters.

Pertaining to the Transport sector, the Gambian Side proposed the signature of a new Road Transport Agreement before the end of 2007 given that the Agreement signed in 2004 is not adequately implemented. It was agreed that a meeting be held in Dakar on 20th November, 2007 to finalise a new agreement.

The question of the bridge was raised. It was decided to refer it to the forthcoming meeting of the Joint Consultative Committee.

 

Environment

In the area of environmental management, delegations from the two countries indicated their long-standing cooperation in sharing information based on the use of Geographic Information System (GIS) and remote sensing. Future collaboration will include coastal and marine environment management, enhancing environmental monitoring systems, and the strengthening of chemicals management including the control of obsolete and/or banned pesticides in the two countries.

 

Forestry

Delegations of both countries agreed to strengthen collaboration by implementing joint activities and exchange of experiences in fire prevention, protection and monitoring techniques, community forestry, the management of mangroves and mangrove die-back, especially Bintang Bolong. The two countries will strengthen the control of the cross-border movement of forest products; exchange of research, trial results, data and documentations and sharing information on reforestation and afforestation, as well as collaborate on the implementation of regional and international agreements.

 

Protected Areas and Wildlife management

On wildlife management, the two governments are implementing an MOU of 2001 for the Trans-frontier management of Niumi National Park and Delta du Saloum National Park. In addition to these two areas of cooperation delegations of both countries agreed to the establishment of more Trans-boundary Protected Areas, harmonization of regulation on sport hunting, wildlife management and cooperation on illegal poaching.

 

Climate Change

The delegations agreed to develop policies and regulations in implementing joint mitigation and adaptation plans and programmes.

 

Agriculture

The two sides underscored the need for the implementation of common policies and programmes geared towards poverty alleviation and agreed to cooperate in the harmonization of their regulations on phytosanitary, seeds, genetically modified organisms and movement of pesticides. They also agreed to prevent invasion of locust and other migratory pests and improve on exchange of research, training and experiences. The countries will endeavour to share experience in research in the   agro-sylvo-pastoral area.

 

Fisheries

In the Fisheries sector, there is an existing reciprocal Fisheries Agreement between the two countries which will be reviewed, in accordance with Article 13 of the Agreement, in January 2008 in Banjul , The Gambia.

 

Gender

The Women’s Bureau in The Gambia and the Ministry of Family Affairs in Senegal have initiated action for an effective and coordinated collaboration between them, and to that end the two countries are about to sign a bilateral agreement.

 

Children

On the development of the child the delegations of the two countries agreed to factor and fully integrate children’s issues in their respective national policies and programmes. The Senegalese side has invited children and teachers from The Gambia to attend the 3rd Children’s Week Celebration from the 11th to the 16th December, 2007. The Senegalese delegation proposes that The Gambia considers the establishment of a "Hut for   Children" programme with the logistics, equipment and training to be funded by Senegal .

Education

The delegations agreed to establish links between the University of The Gambia and other institutions of higher education in Senegal and exchange experiences in vocational training. The two countries intend to collaborate on the transcription of common local languages and share experiences in non-formal education.

 

Energy

Both countries are interested in rural electrification and great efforts have been made to that effect. It was agreed to mobilize adequate funds for the improvement of trans-boundary electrification and inter-connections.

 

Culture and Heritage

The two countries are to undertake consultations at institutional level through meetings and exchange of cultural facilities and activities. In this endeavour, cultural exchanges between them are of great importance.

 

Security and Defence, the Senegalo-Gambian Permanent Secretariat and Tourism

On the issue of Defence, it has been satisfactorily noted that an Agreement is in place and that a final Draft Momorandum of Understanding is yet to be signed by the Chiefs of Defence Staff of the two countries.

Concerning the issue of Security, the two Sides reiterated their determination to fully implement the conventions signed by them in relation to extradition matters.

In this regard, they will examine the procedures pertaining to the implementation of requests for extradition and will therefore exchange information in this respect as soon as possible.

Regarding Immigration matters, both parties agreed to jointly sensitise their respective officers at the borders to allow the free movement of people and goods.

The two Sides agreed to organize regular contacts and periodic visits between the two Police authorities.

For the waiver on the abrogation of aliens’ cards, the two Sides agreed that the request be submitted to the Gambian Side through diplomatic channels.

Pertaining to the issue of Health, it was recommended that the competent committee be convened to review the existing Agreement and formulate recommendations to the concerned authorities.

On the issue of Senegalo-Gambian Permanent Secretariat, it was agreed that the sub-committee should meet to decide on the salient points so as to address all outstanding issues. The timetable for the establishment of the Permanent Secretariat will be decided upon by both Sides.

Concerning cooperation in Tourism, the meeting proposed that the experts of the two countries meet to study the draft Agreement proposed by The Gambian delegation to the Senegalese Side.

This meeting will be followed by a meeting of the Consultative Committee before the end of the year in December 2007 in Dakar and a Summit of Heads of State shortly thereafter.

Done in Banjul , this 3rd day of November 2007 in two versions in English and French, both texts being equally authentic.’’