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The border between Senegal and Guinea has been closed for more than 6 months. Decision made by Guinea’s President Alpha Condé at the end of September 2020 before the presidential election that led to his re-election. Justification: “safety reasons”. The ECOWAS Commission last week called for continued “ongoing bilateral discussions” between Dakar and Conakry to resume the border. An incomprehensible situation for traders and carriers on both sides, hard hit.
as reported from Dakar, Charlotte idrac
Letters, talks … Gora Khouma, president of the Union of Truckers of Senegal, has made several attempts in recent months with the authorities to warn of the consequences of this closure.
“We have Senegalese trucks in Guinea that do not have the opportunity to leave, we also have trucks at the border that are blocked, the goods are rotting, there are problems with the banks, the truck drivers are tired … This problem between the two presidents must not hurt the Senegalese and the Guinean population. ”
“The situation has broken down with Sierra Leone, and negotiations are continuing with Senegal and Guinea-Bissau,” said an official source in Conakry. According to this official, the “security issue” is at stake. In the election context of October last year, he evokes “a probable destabilization operation” that could have been carried out against Guinea.
► Read also: Guinea: road transporters angry at the closure of borders
But the election has gone, and for Tanou Nadhel Diallo, administrative secretary of the Labé Transport Union – in Central Guinea – the situation has lasted too long. In Central Guinea, 80% of the food comes from Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Gambia. Everything is expensive. Prices have soared. It’s purely political. ECOWAS did well to score “i’s”, because it really is a disaster. “
No comments from the Senegalese authorities. Dakar – at the moment – has not spoken officially on this issue.
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