Former US State Department official Musa Bassadi Jawara has emphasized that the claims by Yahya Jammeh that Senegal is drawing from The Gambia’s offshore oil reserves “warrant serious consideration”.
The one-time Gambian president caused quite a stir these days when he claimed in an audio recording that Senegal has no oil and gas reserves and that the neighbouring country has been drilling The Gambia’s oil reserves, which can be compared to Saudi Arabia or Venezuela.
Though some people have described this claims of Jammeh’s as incendiary, provocative and perhaps a tirade of a bored and bitter former President, Japan-trained and US-matriculated economist Musa Basad Jawara opined that Jammeh’s claims require a serious thought.
“Given former President Yahya Jammeh’s 22-year tenure and access to sensitive information, his claims about Senegal drilling in Gambia’s offshore oil reserves warrant serious consideration,” Jawara said when contacted for comment on Jammeh’s recent allegations against Senegal.
“Investigating these allegations thoroughly is crucial to determine their validity and potential implications for Gambia’s natural resources. A careful examination may indeed uncover valuable insights or evidence,” he stressed.
It would be recalled that on 9 March 2024, Musa Basad Jawara, through The Voice newspaper, issued a call for The Gambia to be cautious “as Senegal’s actions may compromise the country’s interests”. Jawara told the paper that Senegal’s offshore oil fields include the Sangomar Field and Grand Tortue Ahmeyim Field, adding that the drilling is managed by licensed international companies like TotalEnergies and BP.
“As of now, there’s no evidence of slant drilling or illegal activities in Senegal’s oil operations,” he told The Voice. He opined that despite the lack of evidence of slant drilling or illegal activities in Senegal’s oil operations, The Gambia should exercise caution in oil exploration as Senegal’s actions may compromise its interest.
“In 1990, Iraq accused Kuwait of stealing its oil by slant-drilling into Iraq’s Rumaila oil field. Iraq claimed this was an act of economic warfare. This dispute contributed to Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait, leading to the Gulf War,” he stated.
“The Gambia should exercise caution in oil exploration, as Senegal’s actions may compromise our interests,” Jawara advised.
