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Senegal wary of weapons headed to neighboring Gambia
Tuesday, 07 December 2010 23:30
(Xinhua) - The anxiety of the Senegalese authorities has mounted after the Oct. 21
seizure of heavy weapons in Nigeria reportedly coming from Iran and destined to Gambia.Observers say this fear is justified due to the 20-year conflict in Senegal's southern region of Casamance which borders Gambia. The region has been under the control of the separatist group.
Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade says he is very much disturbed by this issue.
"I was very much disturbed by this issue because Gambia does not need these heavy weapons including the long-range ones. In this case, it's better to take precautions despite assurances from the Iranian foreign affairs minister," the Senegalese president declared.
The office of the president expressed fears in a document dated Nov. 23. Spokesman Serigne Mbacke Ndiaye said, "Senegal was deeply disturbed by this trafficking of arms which is prohibited by the international community."
"As soon as he received this news, President Wade dispatched his foreign minister Me Madicke Niang to Lagos to get more information," he added.
The spokesman asked the foreign minister to get in touch with the Iranian authorities to obtain explanations on the arms cargo which has the potential to destabilize the sub-region.
Observers link the fears of the Senegalese authorities to the ongoing conflict near the country's border with Gambia, the destination of the weapons.
"Since the beginning of the Casamance conflict, the question everyone has been asking is, where does the Movement for Democratic Forces of Casamance (MFDC) get its weapons," asked Ibrahim Gassama, a journalist.
Gassama, who is a director of a private radio station at Ziguinchoir, said there is truth in the claims of those who suspect that the rebels get their weapons through the support of neighboring countries which have always served as the rear bases for the separatist MFDC.
A political scientist Babacar Justin Ndiaye singled out the geographic location of Gambia vis-a-vis Senegal. He said, "If Dakar does not act strongly on this matter, it's because part of Gambia's land surface is within Senegal."
Gambia is a former British colony enclosed in the Senegalese territory. Gambia cut ties with Iran after this matter was reported.
In a statement, Gambian Foreign Minister ordered all Iranian officials in the country to leave his country.
Analyzing the Gambian reaction, Ndiaye explained that "it could be that Gambia did not want to be blamed for this matter and even decided to cut diplomatic ties with Iran."
For the moment, Nigeria has referred the case to the United Nations Security Council.
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Comments
Why would the people not suspect him of hiding something when he CONSISTENTLY fails to offer clarification for things that are happening in the country, from drug seizures to government-sanctioned witchunts?
Wrote "So please tell me where is Jammeh implicated"
Well Choung I think you are been unfair to your intelligence. I think you instead should tell Gambians and Senegal, why 1.2 billion was sacrifice and why cutting off ties without a single reason told to the people of Gambia. Since the cargo was intercepted redirected to Gambia as you said. You tell Gambians and Senegal, Why such warfare weapons was been “go ahead “re-addressed as you said, to Gambian president's Kanilai Farms. Even The police chief of Jammeh knows no one dare give Kanilai Farm address to recieved a pistol without Yahya Jammeh knowledge and not to talk of Weapons that can lit the whole Kanilai. Again you tell who in Gambia was going to receive the "re exports" and why no want is arrested 3 months now. It seems you have not been honest with yo common sense intelligence. Well, Choung, I hope, You are not the duty PC when I will report a buglary in my house. No offend to you
Let the people preasurise Nigeria to put preasure on the Iranian and Iran to claify the whole issue. These weapones where for Nigeria,the security was tight that they could not clear the containers so they decidesd to re export them to The Gambia.
So please tell me where is Jammeh implicated? Do not just jump and write robish only for the fact that you have the opportunuty.
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