THE GAMBIA: IMPROVED TENOR OF RELATIONSHIP WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANJUL 000451

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DAKAR PLS PASS DAO, ODC, AND RAO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/15/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV SG GA
SUBJECT: THE GAMBIA: IMPROVED TENOR OF RELATIONSHIP WITH
SENEGAL

REF: A. BANJUL 394


B. BANJUL 436

Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOSEPH STAFFORD, REASON 1.4 (B AND D)

JAMMEH/WADE MEETING AT AU SUMMIT
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1. (C) In July 14 discussion with Ambassador,
recently-arrived Senegalese Ambassador Mamadou Fall spoke of
an improved tenor of late in the Gambian/Senegalese
relationship and cited as illustrative Senegalese President
Wade's June 19 visit to Banjul (ref a) and his subsequent
attendance at the July 1-2 African Union Summit here.
According to Fall, Wade's side meeting with President Jammeh
during the Summit was cordial, with Jammeh making clear his
gratitude for Dakar's contribution of Dols 500,000 to help
cover the Summit's costs (ref b). Fall stated that both
leaders were careful to refrain from raising such thorny
bilateral issues as the GOTG's persistent suspicions of a
Senegalese hand in the March failed coup plot here and
equally persistent GOS suspicions of Gambian meddling in the
Casamance. The Senegalese diplomat went on to assert that
at the top of his agenda for his Banjul posting was to work
with the GOTG to overcome the current rough patch in
bilateral ties.

COMMENT
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2. (C) Despite the cordiality of the Jammeh/Wade meeting
during the Summit, as portrayed by Fall, Jammeh continues to
seek foreign pressure on Dakar to address allegations of
Senegalese complicity in the failed coup attempt and of
harboring its ringleader, judging from his reported approach
to UNSYG Annan on the margins of the Summit (ref b). While
GOTG officials had previously expressed determination,
following the abortive coup, to maintain cooperation with the
GOS on key projects -- e.g., construction of a bridge across
the Gambia river that would facilitate travel between
Northern Senegal and the Casamance region, restoration of a
Joint Permanent Secretariat to manage bilateral issues -- our
sense is that there has been little progress in recent months
amidst the heightened bilateral strains. END COMMENT.





STAFFORD