BY BIRAAGO

The Senegalese Newspaper, Wal Fajri, has reported that the NIA have tripled their activities at Hamdalaye, and other crossing points into Senegal. They also claim that a diplomat posted in Banjul have reported that despite the official statements, the two nations have never ever been living under the cloud tension that hovering over them at the moment. The diplomat said that the Gambian authorities have contacted Turkey for any eventualities.

 THE FREEDOM NEWSPAPER'S OWN

INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATIONS

The Freedom Newspaper also mounted its own investigations to authenticate the Wal Fajir story. Well placed sources at Gambia’s Department of Defense confirmed the presence of armed guards along The Gambian Senegalese border. The official say the army were on stand by and had been patrolling the border on a daily basis. It is not yet clear what the Jammeh government was up to. But sources say the high security presence on the border will further jeapodise the bilateral relationship between the two countries. Travelers in the area have also confirmed the heavy security presence in Amdalai and other border security posts across the country.

Turkey had a good bilateral ties with The Gambian government. It provide military assistance to the Republic of The Gambia. A good number of Gambian soldiers received commando training from Turkey. But many observers say Turkey will likely turn down Jammeh’s request to beef up security for the impoverished West African country. While, not ruling out the possibility of Turkey providing special guard protection for Jammeh, observers say the question of Turkey sending its troops to The Gambia was a wild dream.

Earlier, this month President Jammeh told the nation that the coup suspects were being backed by a foreign government, but failed to give the name of the said government. This followed revelations that the Senegalese Envoy to the Gambia Njuka Njie, was in touch with coup suspect Tamsir Jasseh. Senegal however, denied having hands into the said alleged coup plot. It recalled its envoy following reports that the administration of President Jammeh was on the verge of expelling Ambassador Njie.

Local observers in the former British colony are increasingly worried about the recent mounting hostilities between the two countries. President Jammeh was quoted as having said that The Gambia was more equipped than its neighbors and vowed to wipe out any country trying to meddle into the country’s internal affairs. Jammeh says The Gambia had  a lot of weaponry and would  use them to cow down any state engaged in external aggression against the tiny West African country.

Jammeh, a former wrestler and retired military officer is increasingly  becoming unpopular as his ruling party the APRC is said to be faced with internal bickering and power struggle. The party’s key officials have either been jailed, sacked or expelled. He's  seeking for reelection for a third term amidst reports of coup and anti coup protest in Banjul.

The African Union is supposed to hold its Summit in Banjul, in a little while, but calls for the postponement of the said meeting has been growing. Media Watch dog such as Reporters Without Borders and other pro democracy groups have launched an appeal to the African body to delay the said AU Banjul Summit, in view of the growing political uncertainties in the African country. President Jammeh has purchased fleets of vehicles in preparation of the said Summit. While the country is faced with serious economic crisis, Jammeh went ahead to purchase those expensive hummers.