Awaiting an invitation to broker Senegal peace talks

Gambia is awaiting an invitation from Senegal’s new rulers before resuming its role as facilitator in discussions between Dakar and rebels seeking an independent state in Casamance, southern Senegal, a Gambian official told IRIN on Tuesday. Until Senegal’s recent change of government, Gambia had been hosting monthly discussions between Dakar and the Mouvement des forces democratiques de Casamance (MFDC), expected to lead to full peace talks. The discussions in the Gambian capital, Banjul, led to a ceasefire, but stopped when Abdoulaye Wade was elected president of Senegal in March. Wade’s government has opted for direct talks with the MFDC and its military commanders on ending the 18-year war, putting Gambia’s involvement on hold and prompting reports that it had been snubbed by the new rulers in Dakar. However, the Gambian official told IRIN relations with Senegal “continue to be excellent”. The official, who did not wish to be named, said Gambia was still willing to take part in any peace effort in Senegal or elsewhere. Illustrating this, the official said Gambian President Yahya Jammeh had been approached to help bring peace between Eritrea and Ethiopia.