Hon. Hamat NK. Bah, The Minister Of Lands
By Ramatoulie Jawo
Hon. Hamat N.K. Bah, Minister of Lands, Regional Government, and Religious Affairs, has provided an update to the National Assembly on the progress of the roadmap for the Darsilameh border demarcation between The Gambia and Senegal.
The minister made this statement in response to a question from Hon. Lamin J. Sanneh, Member for Brikama South, who requested an update on the development of the border demarcation roadmap.
In his response, Minister Bah informed lawmakers that the Gambia National Border Commission and the Senegalese Border Commission have established a Joint Boundary Commission, which has developed a roadmap for collaborative border management activities.
He further stated that in February 2025, the Joint Senegalo-Gambia Border Commission conducted a sensitization exercise in border regions, including the North Bank, Central River, and Upper River Regions.“As part of its activities, the Joint Commission visited the Darsilameh, Touba Tranquill border areas on 27 February 2025 and recommended a joint technical mission in March 2025,” he said.
Minister Bah assured the Assembly that the demarcation process between The Gambia and Senegal at Darsilameh and Touba Tranquille will proceed once the Joint Commission finalizes its assessment and identifies the designated sites.
During the session, Hon. Sanneh expressed concerns over the prolonged process, stressing that the issue remains critical. He reminded the Assembly that the border area in question has been a contentious buffer zone, and inquired about the current stage of the roadmap’s development.
In response, Minister Bah stated that he was limiting his remarks to the information provided, as the matter is sensitive and technical committees are actively working on it.“Be rest assured that it is this government’s desire to resolve this crisis as soon as possible,” he said.
Hon. Sanneh acknowledged the sensitivity of the matter but emphasized its urgency, stressing the need to fast-track the process. He pointed out that just last week, there were multiple crises, with individuals suffering severe assaults. He further urged the minister to provide an update on the current status of the roadmap, noting that it has been over a year since they were tasked with this responsibility.
In response, the minister assured that work is ongoing and reaffirmed their commitment to resolving the issue as quickly as possible.
The member for Central Badibou told the minister that Parliament would not be convinced of the ministry’s or the government’s seriousness regarding the Darsilameh border issue unless concrete action is taken.He mentioned that they frequently receive reports of Senegalese groups entering The Gambia. He cautioned, “If care is not taken, the issue can go out of hand. So we want to know how soon and if you say you have a road and measures, what kind of measures the house needs to know.”
In response, Minister Bah strongly disagreed with Hon. Saho’s assertions, maintaining that the government is fully committed to resolving the crisis.
“I want to assure you that once the technical committees complete their job, this matter will be resolved,” he said.
Hon. Yahya Menteng Sanyang, Member for Latrikunda Sabiji, expressed confusion over the necessity of a new border demarcation, questioning why The Gambia—having gained independence in 1965—now faces such issues.
Minister Bah clarified that border disputes are not uncommon in Africa due to colonial-era territorial divisions, which often separated communities that previously coexisted.
Hon. Alfusainey Ceesay, Member for Sami, inquired whether the matter would be resolved before the end of 2025. Minister Bah responded that he hoped for a resolution as early as the following month.
Hon. Suwaibou Touray, Member for Wuli East, sought clarification on additional measures being considered to address the issue.
Minister Bah explained that sensitization and public education efforts were ongoing and had proven to be effective. He underscored that the primary challenge remains the demarcation of the area, which will ultimately clarify territorial boundaries and bring the matter to a conclusion.