By: Kebba Ansu Manneh
In a swift response to rising border tensions, Ousman Bah, Governor of the Central River Region (CRR), led a high-level delegation to affected communities on Monday, July 20, 2026. The visit came days after Senegalese Gendarmerie officers crossed into Gambian territory and warned farmers in Jimbala Kerr Musa, Panchang, and other border villages to stop cultivating ancestral farmlands.
The delegation included CRR Police Commissioner Dembo Sanneh, the CRR Army Commander, District Chiefs of Lower Saloum and Upper Saloum (including Chief Ali Gaye Touray), officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, and representatives from the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA). They toured crisis-hit areas such as Jimbala Kerr Musa, Tambana, Panchang, and Njau to assess the situation firsthand and reassure residents.
Musa Bah, a native of Jimbala Kerr Musa, confirmed the visit to The Alkamba Times. “The Governor, Chief Ali Gaye Touray, the Police Commissioner, Army Commander, and other authorities arrived in Jimbala on Monday,” he said. The team held meetings with villagers, elders, farmers, youth, and local leaders.
According to Musa Bah, the delegation urged residents to remain calm and composed. They advised farmers to continue working on their lands while reporting any further approaches by Senegalese Gendarmerie to the Governor’s office. “They told us government authorities are engaging Senegalese counterparts through proper channels to resolve the dispute amicably,” he added.
Governor Ousman Bah personally confirmed the mission to The Alkamba Times. “We visited the border crisis communities to gather firsthand information,” he explained. The delegation included senior security officials, chiefs, agriculture experts, and NDMA personnel to evaluate the farmlands and potential impacts on yields.
Governor Bah revealed he had communicated directly with the Senegalese regional “Supremo,” who confirmed instructions to halt farming in disputed areas and had submitted written reports to affected Alkalos (village heads). “I transmitted the content of our discussions to the Ministry of Local Government and Lands,” the Governor stated. “As a government-to-government matter, we informed villagers to keep calm as engagements continue through the Senegalo-Gambia Secretariat and the Border Directorate at the Ministry of Lands.”
He emphasized the need for restraint: “We advised the villagers to refrain from any violence and allow government to handle the matter through established bilateral channels.” Officials also assessed affected farmlands for possible emergency support, quantifying potential crop losses in rice, millet, and groundnuts — vital to local livelihoods.
The incursion has heightened fears in CRR and parts of the West Coast Region (WCR). Villagers insist the lands have been cultivated by their families for generations, predating independence. The latest incident follows a recent confrontation at Bulock Military Camp, where Senegalese forces reportedly demolished part of a Gambian perimeter fence.
Regional authorities are working to de-escalate the situation while protecting citizens’ rights and territorial integrity. Governor Bah assured that ongoing diplomatic efforts aim for a peaceful resolution. For now, farmers in the affected communities wait anxiously, balancing daily agricultural work with hopes for a swift end to the uncertainty.
The Alkamba Times will continue monitoring developments as high-level talks between Banjul and Dakar progress.
