Tension has erupted at the Gambia and Senegal border after youth blocked Senegalese vehicles from entering into the country, amid accusation that Senegalese refuse passage of Gambian vehicles into their country.

The situation has triggered the Gambia Police Force to send a senior officer to Senegal to negotiate the matter in order to reach a resolution.

In a footage seen by Gambiana, a huge crowd of youth are seen blocking a Senegalese vehicle from entering into The Gambia.

Another footage showed a Gambian Police officer addressing the angry youth, appealing to them to not to take the law into their hands. He assured them a Police commissioner is already holding talks with his Senegalese counterpart in order to reach a solution on the matter.

“As we are speaking, commissioner of police is already in Senegal with his counterpart to discuss this issue. We haven’t sit watch this matter to escalate and that’s why we are doing all efforts to ensure we avoid the problem. We don’t want our citizens to cry, but you the citizens should also obey the law and allow us to use diplomatic channels to resolve this matter amicably.

“As we are speaking, the commissioner of police is already there negotiating to ensure Gambian vehicles are not damaged in Senegal. Thus, let’s take things easy and obey the authorities to do their job. But blocking highways wouldn’t solve any problem,” he told the unhappy Gambian youth.

However, a driver who spoke for the youth replied that: “we appreciate what you said, and we appreciate the efforts of our authorities to stand for us. but we also want to end this injustice in the country. We are doing our jobs, but will not allow the Senegalese to stop our vehicles from entering their country, yet their vehicles will be coming in and out of our country. we are not fighting for ourselves only, rather we are doing this fight for the whole country.”

Reporting by Adama Makasuba