Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BANJUL325
2007-06-22 13:39:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Banjul
Cable title:
THE GAMBIA: CASAMANCE VIOLENCE, SENEGALESE
how-toVZCZCXRO3267 OO RUEHPA DE RUEHJL #0325 1731339 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 221339Z JUN 07 FM AMEMBASSY BANJUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7602 INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/DIA WASHINGTON DC RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//POLAD/J2//
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANJUL 000325
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DAKAR PLS PASS DAO,ODC, AND RAO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/22/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINS PREF SG GA
SUBJECT: THE GAMBIA: CASAMANCE VIOLENCE, SENEGALESE
ECONOMIC PRESSURE
REF: BANJUL 283 ET AL
Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOSEPH STAFFORD, REASON 1.4 (B AND D)
CONCERN OVER CASAMANCE VIOLENCE
---------------------------------
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANJUL 000325
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DAKAR PLS PASS DAO,ODC, AND RAO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/22/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINS PREF SG GA
SUBJECT: THE GAMBIA: CASAMANCE VIOLENCE, SENEGALESE
ECONOMIC PRESSURE
REF: BANJUL 283 ET AL
Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOSEPH STAFFORD, REASON 1.4 (B AND D)
CONCERN OVER CASAMANCE VIOLENCE
--------------
1. (C) On June 22, the Inspector General of Police (IGP),
claimed to RSO that on June 18 a "major battle" had erupted
between Senegalese military forces and Casamance rebels near
the Gambian border town of Sibanor. He said that the
fighting had resulted in "substantial losses" to the
Senegalese military and that the latter would respond by
mounting a "major offensive" against the rebels in "the next
few days." The IGP said that the latest violence had not/not
spilled over into Gambian territory. He stated that, when
the expected Senegalese military offensive occurs, Gambian
authorities would close at least portions of the border with
the Casamance, but would not/not prevent refugees from
crossing over into The Gambia.
GOS TO RESTRICT TRADE WITH THE GAMBIA
--------------
2. (C) A well-informed journalistic source, citing GOS
sources, told us that the GOS had decided to register its
displeasure over the GOTG's provocations of late (e.g.,
meddling in the Casamance) by instituting measures, effective
June 26, to restrict trade with The Gambia. According to our
source, the GOS, in a move against the Gambian re-export
trade, planned to restrict imports from The Gambia through
such means as hiking customs duty on some products and
imposing on Gambian exporters additional documentary
requirements for their shipments. At the same time, he
continued, the GOS planned to have Senegalese exporters
reduce shipments to The Gambia of such key commodities as
cement and cooking gas. The source said that the GOS had
decided against actual closure of the border with The Gambia,
at least for the time being.
COMMENT
--------------
3. (C) In recent days, local business contacts have
complained of growing difficulty in obtaining such vital
imports from Senegal as cement and cooking gas. The GOS may
have already embarked on its reported moves to apply economic
pressure against The Gambia. END COMMENT.
STAFFORD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DAKAR PLS PASS DAO,ODC, AND RAO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/22/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINS PREF SG GA
SUBJECT: THE GAMBIA: CASAMANCE VIOLENCE, SENEGALESE
ECONOMIC PRESSURE
REF: BANJUL 283 ET AL
Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOSEPH STAFFORD, REASON 1.4 (B AND D)
CONCERN OVER CASAMANCE VIOLENCE
--------------
1. (C) On June 22, the Inspector General of Police (IGP),
claimed to RSO that on June 18 a "major battle" had erupted
between Senegalese military forces and Casamance rebels near
the Gambian border town of Sibanor. He said that the
fighting had resulted in "substantial losses" to the
Senegalese military and that the latter would respond by
mounting a "major offensive" against the rebels in "the next
few days." The IGP said that the latest violence had not/not
spilled over into Gambian territory. He stated that, when
the expected Senegalese military offensive occurs, Gambian
authorities would close at least portions of the border with
the Casamance, but would not/not prevent refugees from
crossing over into The Gambia.
GOS TO RESTRICT TRADE WITH THE GAMBIA
--------------
2. (C) A well-informed journalistic source, citing GOS
sources, told us that the GOS had decided to register its
displeasure over the GOTG's provocations of late (e.g.,
meddling in the Casamance) by instituting measures, effective
June 26, to restrict trade with The Gambia. According to our
source, the GOS, in a move against the Gambian re-export
trade, planned to restrict imports from The Gambia through
such means as hiking customs duty on some products and
imposing on Gambian exporters additional documentary
requirements for their shipments. At the same time, he
continued, the GOS planned to have Senegalese exporters
reduce shipments to The Gambia of such key commodities as
cement and cooking gas. The source said that the GOS had
decided against actual closure of the border with The Gambia,
at least for the time being.
COMMENT
--------------
3. (C) In recent days, local business contacts have
complained of growing difficulty in obtaining such vital
imports from Senegal as cement and cooking gas. The GOS may
have already embarked on its reported moves to apply economic
pressure against The Gambia. END COMMENT.
STAFFORD