Four government ministers on Wednesday left Banjul for Dakar as part of mediation efforts to end the border disputes between the Senegalese and Gambian transport unions. 

The Gambia government delegation, which includes the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Interior, Minister of Works, and the Minister of Trade, is expected to meet the Senegalese president Macky Sall and leaders of Senegal’s transport union. 

The border standoff between the two unions started last week after a fleet of buses from The Gambia was denied entry into Senegal by officials of the Senegalese Transport Union. 

The Gambia Transport Union (GTU) has vowed to take a retaliatory action on Wednesday by closing the Gambian border to all commercial vehicles from Senegal. 

Omar Ceesay, president of GTU, told journalists yesterday “we are just waiting for the outcome of the dialogue between the two governments, and we will stop all Senegalese commercial vehicles from entering the Gambia if the talk fails.” 

The border disputes have brought to the fore simmering tensions between the two neighbouring countries. Scores of Gambians have taken to social media to show their support and solidarity for the Gambia Transport Union, while condemning the actions of the Senegalese Transport Union. 

Reporting by Adama Makasuba