By Makutu Manneh
The Gambia Transport Union (GTU) has expressed serious concern over what it describes as the unequal treatment of Gambian commercial vehicles operating in other ECOWAS member states, while foreign vehicles from those same countries move and operate freely within The Gambia.
According to the Union, Gambian commercial drivers face restrictive and costly barriers in countries such as Guinea-Bissau and Guinea-Conakry. In these countries, customs authorities reportedly demand a guarantee payment equivalent to nearly 50 percent of a vehicle’s value as a condition for entry—a practice the Union says imposes a significant financial and operational burden on Gambian operators.
The GTU further highlighted that Senegalese authorities prohibit Gambian commercial passenger vehicles from transporting people into Senegal. The Union contends that this restriction directly violates Article 5 of the ECOWAS Protocol on the free movement of people, goods, and services.
“These restrictions raise operational challenges for Gambian commercial transport operators, disrupt cross-border trade and passenger mobility, and create an unfair competitive environment, as foreign vehicles operate freely in The Gambia,” the union stated.
In a policy document submitted to the Ministry of Transport, Works, and Infrastructure on 3 October 2025, the Union called for urgent measures to promote reciprocity and fairness in regional transport operations. The document urges the government to enforce regulations that protect local transport operators and uphold ECOWAS principles of free movement.
The GTU also recommended that the government designate Basse, in the Upper River Region, as the official terminal for foreign commercial passenger vehicles operating in the country. Additionally, the Union proposed that it be granted exclusive authority to monitor compliance with these regulations.
The policy document further emphasized that only Gambian-registered commercial vehicles should be allowed to operate within the country.
“Foreign commercial passenger vehicles in transit through Gambia shall not pick up or drop any passengers or goods in The Gambia in accordance with the ECOWAS Protocol on Transit,” the union concluded.