Senegal and Gambia finalise historic border agreement after Bullock incident

Historic breakthrough in West Africa: Senegal and Gambia resolve border dispute

Senegal and Gambia have achieved a landmark milestone by finalising a definitive agreement on the delimitation of their shared border. This resolution, announced by the Permanent Secretariat of the Senegal-Gambia Border Commission, follows a recent escalation near Bullock that had reignited longstanding tensions between the two nations.

The dispute surfaced on July 16 when Senegalese military personnel removed a section of a Gambian military post’s fence near Bullock. Banjul condemned the action as a “provocative” violation of its sovereignty, while Dakar maintained the structures were encroaching on its territory.

Joint efforts to secure the border

To prevent further escalation, both countries have agreed to resume joint demarcation and boundary densification operations starting August 15. These efforts, which were paused in June due to logistical challenges, involve installing new boundary markers to clarify the precise border trajectory.

The Permanent Secretariat confirmed that the campaign will include community awareness programs for populations residing along the border zone, where agricultural activities often spill into frontier areas, contributing to recurring conflicts.

The operations, slated for completion by September, will also assess whether the Gambian military camp at Bullock lies within Senegalese territory, as Dakar has asserted.

Strengthening regional stability through dialogue

Beyond technical border resolution, this agreement underscores the commitment of both nations to prioritise bilateral consultation mechanisms. Their relationship, built on historical ties, robust economic interdependence, and critical security cooperation in West Africa, remains a cornerstone of regional stability.