His Excellency President Macky Sall of Senegal has arrived in The Gambia for the Senegalo-Gambian Presidential Council Meeting on 1st August 2023. He was received at the Banjul International Airport by President Adama Barrow.
JOINT COMMUNIQUE OF THE 3RD SESSION OF THE SENEGALO – GAMBIAN PRESIDENTIAL COUNCIL
1ST AUGUST 2023
BANJUL
JOINT COMMUNIQUÉ
1. The Third Session of the Senegalo-Gambian Presidential Council was held on 1st August 2023 in Banjul, under the joint chairmanship of His Excellency Mr. Adama BARROW, President of the Republic of The Gambia and His Excellency Mr. Macky SALL, President of the Republic of Senegal. The session was preceded by the Ministerial Committee Meeting on 31st July 2023, and an Experts meeting held on 30th and 31st July 2023.
2. The initiative of the Presidential Council is part of the common will of the two Heads of State to raise, to a strategic level, the cooperation between the two countries; linked by geography, history, culture and a common destiny. It also reflects their desire to establish a confident, direct and permanent dialogue, at the highest political level, on all matters of common interest to the two countries.
3. On the side-lines of the Council’s meeting, the two Heads of State had a tête-á-tête meeting during which they exchanged views on bilateral and multilateral issues of mutual interest. On all these subjects, they had a perfect convergence of views.
4. The two Heads of State commended the fraternal spirit and the friendliness that prevailed during the work of the Council and the preparatory sessions. They noted with satisfaction the state of implementation of the recommendations made and the agreements signed during the second session of the Council, held on 12th March 2020 in Dakar, despite the challenges posed by the effects of the COVID–19 pandemic during the implementation period.
5. ln order to consolidate the achievements and accelerate the implementation of the bilateral agreements, they instructed their respective Governments to further the implementation of the two revised roadmaps with specific deadlines, notably in the following areas:
A. Defense, Security, Border Management and Environmental Protection
B. Economic exchanges, free movement
6. Taking into account the regional context marked by the worsening of terrorist attacks and cross-border crimes, the two Heads of State instructed their respective Governments to speed up the effectiveimplementation of the joint or combined patrols along the borders, the exchange of intelligence and training.
7. They further renewed their directives to the authorities of the Defence and Security Forces (DFS) of the two countries to closely work together for the smooth and effective regulation and implementation of the operational protocol on the right to cross-border hot pursuits and joint or combined patrols.
8. ln the area of Border Management, the two Heads of State welcomed with appreciation the report of the Meeting of the Senegalo-Gambian Joint Border Management Commission, held on 25th and 26thJuly 2023 in Banjul and called on their two governments to urgently and closely work together and implement the decisions relative to the roadmap.
9. The two Heads of State expressed their serious concern at the persistent worsening degradation of forest and wildlife resources in the two countries due, notably, to illegal logging, poaching and illegal trafficking in timber, which have a negative impact on the living conditions of populations. In this regard, they renew their directives to the two governments to collaboratively implement the Agreement on Forestry and Wildlife Resource Management without further delay.
10. The two Heads of State reaffirmed their commitment to the ideals and the achievement of the objectives of the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States(ECOWAS).
11. ln this regard, the two Heads of State recognised the facilitation of free flow of trade and people to people exchange by the existence of the Senegambia Bridge and renewed their call with urgency, on the two governments to immediately ensure that the common border remains continuously open in order to promote the free movement of goods and persons, in line with the ECOWAS protocols.
12. The two Heads of State reaffirmed the vital role of the land transport in the consolidation of the integration process between the two countries and the need for all stakeholders and users, to respect the regulations of the free movement of persons and goods.
13. They further renewed their commitment to the full implementation and observance of the various agreements and protocols that facilitate and enhance intra – ECOWAS trade and instructed to their two governments to intensify theircollaborative efforts with a view to removing all technical barriers to trade, and additionally make use of the existing AfCFTA Non – Tariff Barriers online platform as a multilateral monitoring mechanism, for the mutual benefit of the two countries and their peoples.
14. ln order to support these initiatives, they renewed their directives to the two Governments toaccelerate the establishment of the Observatory for Abnormal Practices (OAP) on the Dakar-Banjul Corridor.
15. The Presidential Council witnessed the finalization and signing of the following seven (7)documents:
I. Joint Communiqué
II. Double Taxation Agreement for the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to taxes on income
III. Judicial Cooperation on Civil and Commercial Matters
IV. Bilateral Air Service Agreement
V. Memorandum of Understanding on Domestication of the Dakar-Banjul Air Corridor
VI. Memorandum of Understanding in the field of Health and Social Welfare
VII. Memorandum of understanding between the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Dakar (CCIAD) and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of The Gambia
16. The two Heads of State reiterated their strong recognition of the significance of the several agreements signed between the two countries including, Cultural Cooperation Agreement, Economic, Trade and Investment Cooperation Agreement as well as the existing cooperation agreements in the education sectors of the two countries to develop and strengthen ties in the areas of arts, culture, music and literature, economy, trade, business, investment, education, research, science and technology.
17. In this respect, the two Heads of State also witnessed the adoption of Road Map 3: “Senegambia – Linyu Bokka”, which aims to consolidate and reinforce the operationalization and actualization of the objectives set in these bilateral agreements for the mutual benefit of the peoples of Senegambia.
18. The two Heads of State renewed their directives totheir respective Governments to ensure the rigorous and diligent implementation of the recommendations and agreements resulting from the Council.
19. At the end of the Council, His Excellency President Macky SALL expressed his heartfelt congratulations to His Excellency President AdamaBARROW, to the Government and people of The Gambia for the warm and fraternal welcome as wellas the tremendous hospitality accorded to him and his delegation.
20. The two Heads of States decided to hold the 4thSession of the Senegalo – Gambian PresidentialCouncil in Dakar, Republic of Senegal on dates to be jointly agreed, through diplomatic channel.
Done in Banjul, 1st August 2023 For the Republic of The Gambia For the Republic of Senegal
The Ministerial Session of the 3rd Senegalo-Gambia Presidential Council
On the sidelines of the third session of the Senegal-Gambian Presidential Council taking place in Banjul, President Macky Sall has been decorated by his Gambian counterpart, President Adama Barrow, to the dignity of the Grand Commander of the National Order of The Gambia.
