Nation-States and the challenges of regional integration in West Africa. Vol. 12. The case of Gambia

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The central position of the Gambia inside the territory of Senegal, which it cuts almost in two, represents one of the main challenges that both countries must address before thinking of any integration within the larger space of ECOWAS. This is why relations between the Gambia and Senegal were the main theme of topics presented at the national seminar held during two days in Banjul, namely the contradiction of two States sharing the same culture on both sides of their common borders.

The territory of the Gambia is confined to the narrow valley of the Gambia River and thus condemned to be an enclave in the absence of any outlet through neighbouring States, despite its access to the high seas and their shipping lanes. The lack of a bridge as well as the absence of shipping facilities up the Gambia River is a major handicap for all surrounding States. These should give first priority to the hardship suffered by local peoplewho spend hours, even days, waiting to cross the river at Farafiney. An eventual solution would certainly be the construction of at least three bridges on the river at its mouth, its centre and in the extreme north, and to guarantee the free movement of people and goods across it. But the Gambia must rein in its suspicions of Senegal, which in turn must reassure its neighbour by discarding any radical ideas of simply absorbing Gambian territory.

Paradoxically, respect for its colonial borders makes the Gambia a natural obstacle to the integration of the five Nation-States. The political solution lies in the re-development of this Southern region that would include Senegal, the Gambia, Guinea-Bissau and Guinea within the framework of the OMVG (Gambia River Basin Development Organization). This restructuring would need to take into account the complementarity of the OMVG with the OMVS (Sénégal River Basin Authority) and with the Mano River Union. Politically and economically, the Gambia has a key role to play as a trade gateway for the sub-region.

The seminar held in the Gambia was one of a series of national policy research dialogues, organized between 2005 and 2008 by the Social and Human Sciences Sector of UNESCO, with a view to bringing decision-makers, academics, civil society and other actors together to think about regional integration. Research must proceed and continue alongside the concrete process of making integration happen on the ground.