The United Democratic Party (UDP) has called for an immediate diplomatic resolution to the Bullock Military Camp incident, describing the reported demolition of part of the camp’s perimeter fence by Senegalese soldiers as “unnecessary and provocative.”

In a statement issued on Sunday, the opposition party said it fully supports the Government of The Gambia’s position that the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected at all times.

The statement follows reports that Senegalese military personnel, accompanied by heavy machinery and armed guards, allegedly demolished about 200 metres of the fence at the Bullock Military Camp in Foni after claiming part of the installation was located inside Senegalese territory.

“The UDP fully aligns itself with the position of the Government of The Gambia that The Gambia is a sovereign state whose territorial integrity and national sovereignty must be respected at all times,” the party said.

It warned that any action undermining those principles could damage the longstanding relationship between The Gambia and Senegal.

While acknowledging that border disputes may arise, the UDP argued that such disagreements should be resolved through dialogue and existing diplomatic channels rather than unilateral action.

“The decision to undertake a unilateral military-backed demolition was both unnecessary and provocative,” the party stated.

“Rather than resorting to such measures, Senegal should have dispatched a special envoy to Banjul to engage the Government of The Gambia in constructive discussions.”

The UDP said any border dispute should be addressed through bilateral mechanisms such as the Senegalo-Gambian Joint Commission or, where necessary, other mutually agreed international dispute resolution mechanisms.

“Military intervention should never be the preferred means of resolving disagreements between two friendly neighbouring states,” the statement added.

The party also praised members of the Gambia Armed Forces stationed at Bullock Military Camp for exercising restraint during the incident.

“Their decision not to escalate the situation prevented a potentially dangerous confrontation that could have had serious consequences for both nations and the wider sub-region,” the UDP said.

The party called on the governments of President Adama Barrow and President Bassirou Diomaye Faye to engage in high-level diplomatic talks to resolve the matter peacefully and reaffirm their commitment to regional peace, cooperation and international law.

It concluded by stressing that the historic ties between The Gambia and Senegal, built on shared history, culture and family links, should be protected through dialogue rather than actions capable of creating unnecessary tensions.

By Adama Makasuba