The Station Manager of the Banjul-based radio Station, Mr. Pap Diomaye Thiare, has told this paper that his radio, SUD FM Banjul, has been finally closed down after 20 months of silence and negotiation with Gambian authorities.

Mr. Thiare disclosed that the transmitter and the antenna have already been dismantled and kept in a place in Banjul, adding that the decision was made by the Board of Directors of SUD FM.

He said: "We regret the closure. When we started ten years ago, our mission was to strengthen relations between The Gambia and Senegal, which are two sister countries and the same people. We believe in Senegambia. We thank President Jammeh for his hospitality, the Gambian people and the press fraternity."

Sud FM had operated in The Gambia since its establishment in 1997. It was closed down on 22nd October 2005. The radio is owned by Sud Communications Group in Senegal but has Gambian shareholders. The radio was said to have employed 17 people during the time it was in business.