Gambia has accused Senegalese soldiers of damaging part of a fence at a Gambian military facility near the border.
The incident reportedly occurred Thursday at the Bulock border post in the West Coast Region. Gambian authorities said the work was carried out without prior consultation.
In a statement issued Friday, government spokesperson Ebrima G. Sankareh described the incident as “deeply provocative” and “totally unacceptable.”
According to Banjul, the damaged structure surrounds a facility operated by the Gambia Armed Forces. The government said the action bypassed existing military and diplomatic arrangements between the two countries.
However, Gambian authorities said they were seeking to resolve the matter through diplomatic channels. Officials said discussions with their Senegalese counterparts were already underway.
The dispute is also expected to be handled through the Joint Military Committee and other bilateral mechanisms. These platforms are used by the two countries to address security and border-related issues.
Meanwhile, Banjul said the situation at the border remained calm. It praised Gambian soldiers for showing restraint and preventing the incident from escalating.
The government also highlighted the long-standing relationship between The Gambia and Senegal. The neighboring countries have cooperated for decades on defense, security, trade and border management.
More recently, their leaders reaffirmed plans to strengthen bilateral cooperation. Their agenda includes security, economic development and cross-border relations.
Against this backdrop, Banjul called on Senegalese forces to avoid further actions that could increase tensions. It urged both sides to use established bilateral channels to settle border disputes.
The Gambian government also stressed the need to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of both countries.
Senegal had not issued an official response to the allegations at the time of publication. The Senegalese Armed Forces had also made no public comment.
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