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Reports in Senegal links President Jammeh to intercepted weapons
Saturday, 27 November 2010 21:21
By JollofNews Staff WriterTension is rising in Senegal over reports of Gambia-bound cache of arms intercepted in Nigeria.
The Senegalese government is worried about the destination of the weapons, with every indication pointing to its restive Southern region of Casamance.
According to leading Senegalese daily newspaper, Le Quotidien, which reported that President Abdoulaye Wade has grown worried over President Yahya Jammeh’s intentions for the region, the situation has triggered diplomatic and military investigations in Dakar.
Who is the real conveyor of the arms? Who are the recipients? These two security issues have haunted the Senegalese authorities since the arrest of the arms shipment on October 27 in Nigeria, reports Le Quotidien. It added that since the collapse of this “illegal deal” of weapons, Senegalese diplomacy have sought to provide answers to the concerns of President Abdoulaye Wade.
The paper cited “informed sources” that said the result obtained from investigations indicated President Yahya Jammeh and the Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance (MFDC) rebels ordered the weapons. Le Quotidien further alleged that the CIA informed the Nigerian government of the navigation of a ship carrying weapons ordered by the Presidency in Gambia.
Accordingly, an emergency security mission of the Senegalese Armed Forces was told by the Nigerians that the weapons were indeed “destined for the MFDC via the home address of the Gambian President Yahya Jammeh and specifically, his hometown of Kanilaye.”
Urgent Security Council meeting
To demonstrate how “very seriously” the Senegalese Armed Forces consider the issue, Le Quotidien reported that an urgent National Security Council meeting was summoned by the authorities, which resulted in their urging of the UN Security Council for a ruling on the matter.
It could be recalled that Nigeria has since reported to the UN body.
Senegal has also since embarked on a diplomatic offensive at another front, sending its Minister of Foreign Affairs, Madické Niang, to both Iran and Nigeria.
Le Quotidien cited “well-informed sources” as saying Tehran has assured the Senegalese that it has nothing to do with the cargo. It said the Iranian authorities indicated to Senegalese officials that it is a Senegalese arms deal orchestrated by businessmen, but would not say who.
However, citing US intelligence report of the Gambia’s involvement in the shipment of the weapon, the Senegalese authorities are reportedly convinced that Banjul is preparing for a war. "Otherwise what purpose?" demanded a senior Senegalese official, as reported by Le Quotidien.
The Dakar daily newspaper which is higly critical of the Wade government also cited diplomatic sources in Senegal saying they would want to believe in the good faith of the Iranian authorities, given the special relationship that President Abdoulaye Wade has with his Iranian counterpart, Mahmoud Ahmedinejad.
As regard reports that the intercepted weapons could be destined for the Hezbollah in Lebanon or the Palestinian freedom fighters, observers in Senegal are wondering "What is a consignment (from Iran) bound for Lebanon doing navigating the waters of West Africa.”
Accordingly, there is growing feeling among Senegalese authorities of treachery by Gambia in its move to sever ties with Iran. And according to Senegalese military sources, this is not the first time for such behavior from Gambia, and they expect their smaller neighbor to excel in this field.
Meanwhile, some Senegalese officials expressed mixed feelings over the whole matter. While surprised about the development, they also feel lucky that the weapons have not reached the MFDC.
"Senegal has been lucky,” a senior army officer told Le Quotidien, wondering the repercusion “if these weapons had gotten in to the hands of the MFDC.”
We want peace… we are working for the emergence of our economy. We want for the sons and grandsons of Senegal a prosperous place to live, said Le Quotidien.
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Comments
Whilst we are waiting this demon continues to do more harm to Gambians. Everyday that passes by, he is solidifying and criminalising his rule. Although I accept that Senegal has been doing something like the refusal to hand over some of those he desperately wants to murder, we need concerted action now to expose this biscuit-throwing idiot.
Never doubt the Senegalese intelligence; there is abundant evidence with them linking Jammeh to the rebels. It's just like the cold war; all sides knew of the others effort to pull them down, they only react by trying to do the same.
Unfortunately, however, while for the Senegalese it is to remove Jammeh as he is clearly a threat to world peace, for the latter it is to keep Senegal unstable, because he knows there is no way an independent casamance can be in that part of the world... In other words a restive casamance is like a fuel for an undesirable government like the one we have in Banjul.
But the problem is the Senegalese have morality issues; not to creat mass graves just because they want to remove one insignificant illitrate from power. But they have done alot in the past you know, only that Gambians have screwed all up.
But we might be getting to the end soon.
Comment
VIOLA! - CICI! – “a Senegalese arms deal orchestrated by businessmen” & “ADRESSED to Kanilai-Farm-State House-Banjul”. There we are; “hit nail straight on the head”. This Kanilai-tyrant will INFEST any environ within his DEVILISH encounter, near & far; yaya jammeh is a CONTERMINATING fluke. Senegal MUST do their homework PROPERLY if they TRUELY want & are GENUINELY “...working for the emergence of...economy...for the sons...grandsons of Senegal a prosperous place to live”. Human-welfare MUST be the GOAL of ALL human beings; for deposition & violence are NOT in anybody’s favour. The person you control/harass, trouble/cheat got EQUALLY the same SOUL & ENTITLEMENTS as the perpetrator.
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