The Government of Senegal has responded to The Gambia’s statement on the July 16 incident in the Bulock border area, reaffirming its commitment to resolving the matter peacefully through dialogue and existing bilateral mechanisms.

In a statement issued by the Ministry of African Integration, Foreign Affairs and Senegalese Abroad, Senegal said it remains committed to the historic ties of brotherhood, good neighbourliness and strategic cooperation that bind the two countries.

However, Dakar maintained that the area where the incident occurred has been the subject of discussions between the two governments for several years. It said Senegal has repeatedly raised concerns through diplomatic channels over what it described as encroachments on its territorial integrity, including installations and activities it considers incompatible with the cooperative management of the shared border.

The Senegalese government said that despite sustained high-level discussions and years of negotiations, the two sides have yet to reach a lasting solution to the outstanding border issues.

According to the statement, the July 16 incident should be understood within the context of the unresolved border dispute and should not be interpreted as an attempt by Senegal to undermine The Gambia’s sovereignty or the strong relations between the neighbouring countries.

“The Government of the Republic of Senegal remains fully committed to the peaceful resolution of this issue through dialogue, consultation, and exclusive reliance on existing bilateral mechanisms and appropriate diplomatic channels,” the statement said.

The response comes after the Gambian government protested the border incident and reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the country’s territorial integrity while pursuing a peaceful settlement through diplomatic engagement.