The head of the Senegalese Transport Union, Gora Houma has finally drawn line in the sand – for the border to reopen, either he or President Yahya Jammeh must leave office. He made this declaration during an hour long interview with Banka Manneh of Fatu Network. With this pronouncement, Houma has effectively shut down all doors to any quick settlement to the latest border impasse.
Houma’s current hardline stance is grounded on years of frustration with the way The Gambia’s iron fist dictator uses the border between the two neighbors as bargaining chip in his endless scheme to blackmail the bigger neighbor. This is the umpteenth time this border crisis keeps resurfacing and the narrative is almost always the same – Jammeh gets angry about Senegal’s refusal to hand over Gambians running away from his human rights abuses, and as punishment, either raises fees on Senegalese truckers or without warning, denies them usage of the important route to the Southern Senegalese region of Casamance, thereby eliciting Senegal’s retaliation. The Senegalese it seems want none of it this time.
“What Gambia has is a king and not a President” said Houma with indignation. “In Senegal, we have a President and not a King, so you can see why I am not familiar with how kingship operates” he continued. Gora made these remarks to point to the fact that Jammeh sees Gambia has his kingdom, so he doesn’t see the need for consultation or seeking collaboration when he makes decisions. He (Jammeh) has no respect for either Gambians or the Senegalese; otherwise, he would have consulted on such major decisions that have such serious implications for all involved.
Gora also again raised the case of Shefiff Dibba, the Gambia Transport Association head who died in custody in the hands of security personnel. He revealed that upon hearing the demise of Mr Dibba and having been briefed about the ill treatment the man received in detention prior to his death, he (Gora) proceeded to contact his counterparts in London, U.S, EU, Ivory Coast, Ghana, and other places to intervene. He was therefore happy to announce that the international body responsible for Trade Unions has taken up Dibba’s case and they will be sure to get to the bottom of the matter to see to it that whoever gave the orders and who ever carried them out, brought to justice. He said very powerful groups around the world have decided to join them in their effort to get justice for Dibba’s family and he is confident that we will soon hear about a big development in that direction.
Quizzed as to what impact the current efforts by the likes of Imam Cherno Kah and the appeals made by the Caliph General of the Nyassane sect will have on the border impasse, Gora insisted that religious leaders can have their own consultations and discussions on matters of concern to them as they deem fit, and even Macky Sall and Yahya Jammeh can do the same at their level too if they like, but that these will have absolutely no effect on their current position as it stands – the Senegalese truckers will not ply Gambia’s roads again as long as Yahya Jammeh is the President. “Or unless I get removed from my post as the head of the Transport Union here in Senegal” Houma emphasized.
The border impasse continues and Fatu Network will report any developments.
