The Gambia government has admitted that the fence erected around the Bulock military barracks was built on land belonging to Senegal, according to Lands Minister Hamat Bah.

Bah told the National Assembly yesterday that the location of the fence had been confirmed as Senegalese territory.

The admission follows a July incident in which heavily armed Senegalese soldiers dismantled the fence. Senegal said the move was intended to draw attention to unresolved border issues between the two countries.

“We built it on Senegalese land and we have affirmed that,” Bah told lawmakers.

“Nobody is taking anybody’s land. We are just affirming where the pillars are.”

Bah said the government remains committed to protecting The Gambia’s territorial integrity while working with Senegal to resolve outstanding border demarcation issues.

He said The Gambia now has the equipment and trained personnel needed to identify and mark sections of the border where boundary markers are missing.

“Our country is safe but we must address these border issues once and for all,” he said.

Bah said President Adama Barrow and Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye want to resolve the border issues amicably.

He said The Gambia had previously lacked the equipment and expertise needed for proper border demarcation. Gambian officials were subsequently trained by experts from Ghana and Burkina Faso, allowing the government to begin implementing the agreed demarcation programme.

Bah also commended UDP leader Ousainu Darboe for recognising the government’s efforts and accused previous administrations of failing to resolve the long-standing border issues.