The Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration, and Employment’s Permanent Secretary, Lamin Dampha, has attested to the fact that Senegalese authorities have informed them of their intention to cease exporting basalt in October.

Senegal has already informed us that, as of October 1, they will no longer be exporting basalt to any other nation because they are working on a sizable infrastructure development project and don’t believe their current supply of basalt can be shared with any other nation given the demand and the government’s ongoing efforts to find other sources of basalt. We are an independent nation. The permanent secretary stated, “We have ways and means of getting some of those commodities, just like we were getting them from Senegal. Dampha also addressed and refuted reports that Senegal and The Gambia were embroiled in a trade dispute.

The notion that we and Senegal are engaged in a trade war is being spread by some. That’s not accurate. Senegal and the United States each have their own domestic policies, and currently the two nations are cooperating. Senegal is scheduled to visit us in December, so we can wrap up some loose ends from our meeting in Sally. We are in the process of addressing these matters. Additionally, we expect that the ongoing talks will promote trade between the two nations, Lamin Dampha stated to West Coast Radio.