PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
Presidents Sall, Barrow inaugurate Gambia River bridge
Dakar, Senegal (PANA) - Senegalese President Macky Sall and his Gambian counterpart, Adama Barrow, on Monday welcomed the construction of a bridge over the Gambia River in Farafégné, underlining the facility's importance in bringing the peoples of the two countries together.
"This January 21 is a historic day in the age-old relationships of parenthood, friendship and good neighbourliness between the Gambian and Senegalese peoples. This is also a big day for Africa in its journey towards unity. The destiny of Africa is to unite," Sall said.
The opening ceremony was attended by officials and parliamentarians from both countries, as well as members of the diplomatic corps and religious and local leaders.
"We are united by history, united by geography, united by blood ties, united by a common destiny. More than just a bridge, this magnificent infrastructure carries the symbol of its Senegambian brotherhood," he said.
He congratulated President Barrow on his "strong commitment" to work towards bringing the two peoples closer together and strengthening their good neighbourliness.
"The bridge would not have been built without the political will and leadership of President Barrow," he added, congratulating the Gambian people on having "made history".
The 942-metres long and 12 metres wide bridge, is designed to improve the movement of goods and people between the two countries, shortening the travel time between Dakar and Casamance, the southern part of Senegal.
It was co-financed by both countries to the tune 65 million euros, with the support of the African Development Bank (AfDB).
The bridge is a project that the governments of both countries, under Presidents Leopold Sédar Senghor and Dawda Kairaba Jawara, had planned to build in 1971.
The project, initially scheduled for completion before the end of this year, were delayed for technical reasons that required additional studies and increased cost.
The bridge is said to be a sub-regional structure that is part of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) initiative to open up the area.
It is also "one of the major structures" of the corridor that will link Dakar to Lagos (Nigeria), via Bissau (Guinea-Bissau) and Conakry (Guinea).
-0- PANA AAS/IS/SOC/VAO 21Jan2019
"This January 21 is a historic day in the age-old relationships of parenthood, friendship and good neighbourliness between the Gambian and Senegalese peoples. This is also a big day for Africa in its journey towards unity. The destiny of Africa is to unite," Sall said.
The opening ceremony was attended by officials and parliamentarians from both countries, as well as members of the diplomatic corps and religious and local leaders.
"We are united by history, united by geography, united by blood ties, united by a common destiny. More than just a bridge, this magnificent infrastructure carries the symbol of its Senegambian brotherhood," he said.
He congratulated President Barrow on his "strong commitment" to work towards bringing the two peoples closer together and strengthening their good neighbourliness.
"The bridge would not have been built without the political will and leadership of President Barrow," he added, congratulating the Gambian people on having "made history".
The 942-metres long and 12 metres wide bridge, is designed to improve the movement of goods and people between the two countries, shortening the travel time between Dakar and Casamance, the southern part of Senegal.
It was co-financed by both countries to the tune 65 million euros, with the support of the African Development Bank (AfDB).
The bridge is a project that the governments of both countries, under Presidents Leopold Sédar Senghor and Dawda Kairaba Jawara, had planned to build in 1971.
The project, initially scheduled for completion before the end of this year, were delayed for technical reasons that required additional studies and increased cost.
The bridge is said to be a sub-regional structure that is part of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) initiative to open up the area.
It is also "one of the major structures" of the corridor that will link Dakar to Lagos (Nigeria), via Bissau (Guinea-Bissau) and Conakry (Guinea).
-0- PANA AAS/IS/SOC/VAO 21Jan2019
