CROSS-BORDER DIARIES BULLETIN on WEST AFRICAN LOCAL-REGIONAL REALITIES with the Support of the Sahel and West Africa Club

FRONTIÈRES ET INTÉGRATIONS EN AFRIQUE DE L’OUEST WEST AFRICAN BORDERS AND INTEGRATION Issue 06, June 2007 CROSS-BORDER DIARIES BULLETIN ON WEST AFRICAN LOCAL-REGIONAL REALITIES With the support of the Sahel and West Africa Club

www.afriquefrontieres.org CROSS BORDER NET WORKS SUMMARY N° 06, June 2007

Editorial •FROM ONE BORDER TO ANOTHER,p.3 Niger - Mali

TRANSHUMANCE AND CROSS-BORDER SECURITY

•LIVESTOCK BREEDERS FROM NIGER {AND MALI EVALUATE THE SITUATION IN { TILLABÉRI, P. 48

•CREATION OF A CROSS-BORDER RADIO STATIONS NETWORK, P.6

Sénégambie Méridionale •ASSESSMENT OF THE CIP SENEGAMBIA PILOT OPERATION , P.8

{ •THE ROAD TO A MINI CULTURAL FESTIVAL, P.12 {

Report : Niger, Amenagement transfrontalier

• DOSSO OR GAYA? THE DRY PORT ACQUIRES WATER., P.18

• DRY PORT,CONTROVERSIAL PORT, P.22

The Cross-border Diaries are published both in French and English. available on www.oecd.org/sah www.afriquefrontieres.org …WHICH PARTNERSHIPS AND RESOURCES CAN ENCOURAGE CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION?,P.26 ,QHGLWRULDODQG¿QDQFLDOSDUWQHUVKLSZLWK the Sahel and West Africa Club-OECD Europe - Africa Responsible : Marie Trémolières …«BORDERS ARE “HISTORICAL SCARS.” WE CANNOT FORGET SWAC-OECD {THEM, BUT WE ALSO CANNOT NURTURE THEM», P.30 { 2 rue A. Pascal 75116 Paris-France T: +33 1 45 24 89 68 F: +33 1 45 24 90 31 [email protected]

Editor : Guy-Michel Bolouvi Nigeria - Niger Sud Communication (Sud-Com Niger) BP 12952 Niamey-Niger JOINT COMMISSION FOR COOPÉRATION T: +227 96 98 20 50 F: +227 20 75 50 92 •APRECURSOR TO CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION, P. 34 [email protected]

With contributions by Florent Arragain, Guy-Michel Bolouvi, Mohamadou Abdoul, Emmanuel Salliot, Marie Trémolières, Lotje de Vries.

Burkina - Côte d’Ivoire - Mali Translation Leslie Diamond CROSS-BORDER RADIO STA- Printing OECD TIONS NETWORK This publication’s content • KURUMBA, 1 YEAR ALREADY: { { only represents its authors’views. ALMOST FULLY OPERATIONAL, P.40

© Copyright : All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrivial system or transmitted in any form or by means, electronic, photocopying, recording or other- wise without the prior permission of the SWAC-OECD. EDITORIAL

FROM ONE BORDER TO ANOTHER

his edition of the Border Diaries is a composite, travelling all along the already-explored borders … TIt explores the progress accomplished in the ECOWAS pilot operations in the zones of Niger-Nigeria, Mali- Burkina Faso, and focuses more on Senegambie Meridionale. It reports on other areas: Dosso and Gaya embroiled in a passionate debate on the future of a dry port; a meeting in Tillabéri with the aim of curbing the violence linked to border transhumance. 2XWRIWKH¿HOGWKH'LDULHVFORVHO\IROORZWKHGHYHORSPHQWRIWKHQHZ$IULFDQ8QLRQ%RUGHU3URJUDPPHZKLFKLVJHD- red towards West African experiences. Finally, this edition is dedicated to Lotje de Vries who has returned to Holland DIWHUDORQJFDUHHUDW(QGD'LDSRODQGZRUNLQJLQWKH¿HOGLQERUGHUDUHDV

The Editors

CROSS-BORDER DIARIES JUNE 2007 3 CROSS-BORDER NETWORKS

POLICY DIALOGUE’S ROLE IN CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION

MOHAMADOU ABDOUL,ENDA PROSPECTIVES DIALOGUES POLITIQUES (DIAPOL)

:KDWDFKLHYHPHQWVDQGFKDOOHQJHVUHSUHVHQW SROLF\GLD- ORJXHIRUERUGHUFRRSHUDWLRQ" With a view to cross-border cooperation, policy dialogue reveals tremendous potential for a new and innovative approach to local development and regional integration. But it is operationally very complex and there are various challenges to face. First, the implementation of cross-border cooperation is confronted, through various stages of its operationalisation and depending on the activity sectors concerned, with the over cautiousness of jealous States of their national sovereignty. This obstacle is avoidable when actors act within the framework of bilateral agreements between neighbouring Mohamadou Abdoul countries and that of regulatory and legislative intergo- YHUQPHQWDO RUJDQLVDWLRQV¶ PHFKDQLVPV $8 (&2:$6 )LUVWO\SOHDVHGH¿QHZKDW\RXPHDQE\SROLF\GLDORJXH 8(02$HWF 3ROLF\GLDORJXHDVDSHUSHWXDOFRQFHUWHGDSSURDFKDPRQJ State and non-State actors, is a collective regulatory exer- 3URPRWLQJSROLF\GLDORJXHWKURXJKFURVVERUGHUFRRSHUD- cise of social, political and economic relations. tion, envisaged as a lever of local development of a new It is an age-old dynamic. type and driver of regional integration, raises the issue of The parties created it together for a common goal and equal legitimacy between all involved actors. general interest. During this process, various categories Not all of these actors are integrated into the legitimisation of actors engage in dialogue, and cooperate while highli- process nor are the organisational structures and institu- ghting their complementarity. tions predisposed to this equality. They negotiate also through competition, alliances and 3ROLF\ GLDORJXH ZKLFK LQIXVHV GHPRFUDF\ DQG SDUWLFLSD- FRQÀLFWWKHPRGL¿DEOHPRGDOLWLHVDQGSRVLWLRQVRIWKHLU tive governance can clash with the exercising modalities interactions. of representative democracy. This maintains the intermediation function, that is to say It involves an eminently political situation where power the fact that elected and/or nominated individuals or groups stakes reposition as a result of tension between individual speak and react on behalf of others. As a result, the roles, interests and collective and general interests. SROLWLFDO WHFKQLFDO DQG ¿QDQFLDO IXQFWLRQV WKH YDULRXV

4 CROSS-BORDER DIARIES JUNE 2007 levels of intervention and their interweaving are major This experience is shared with the wider circles where factors in policy dialogue and cross-border cooperation. issues linked to these dynamics are discussed. In these The outline facilitates the interaction of several categories spheres, the WABI initiators are defending their positions RIDFWRUVDQGLVWKHFRQGLWLRQIRUVXI¿FLHQWUHJXODWLRQ and arguments with State representatives, the academic The mechanisms of all involved parties are this policy dia- environment, the private sector, strategic partners and other logue’s coherence tools. PHPEHUV RI FLYLO VRFLHW\ $(%5 &5($) (&$81'3 81(6&2 :KHUHDUH:$%,DQG(QGD'LDSROLQWKHVWUHQJWKHQLQJ It also involves periods where potential collaboration is RIWKLVSROLWLFDOPHFKDQLVP" explored and publications are disseminated, where policy The WABI Initiative is one of the places for building and dialogue is strengthened. strengthening advocacy in favor of cross-border cooperation. Basically, this objective of bringing together diversities 7KDQNVWRWKLVLQLWLDWLYHWKH$IULFDQ8QLRQDQG(&2:$6 in order to co-build joint futures is following its course. strongly support the idea and are starting to be more invol- The pieces of the puzzle fall progressively into place and YHGLQWKHSURFHVVZKLFKHQWDLOVVLJQL¿FDQWSROLWLFDOVXSSRUW the interlacing of initiatives and territories over the course The network is expanding and its partners are diversifying of progress on areas of strategic thinking, decisions and &,/66*7=*5'581'3 7KHGH¿QHGFURVVERUGHU concrete actions. • Interview carried out by Florent Arragain action plans for pilot operations in the SKBo (Sikasso ±%RER'LRXODVVR DQG³6HQHJDPELD0HULGLRQDO´]RQHV are beginning to be carried out. New experiences are being launched: Karakoro Basin between Mali - Mauritania and Maradi-Katsina-Kano between Niger - Nigeria.

Enda Diapol, the DNF and the SWAC are asked to support the development of cross-border cooperation in new areas. Their support foreshadows the strongest and most sustainable partnerships. However, for these initiatives to be wholly independent constitutes an important challenge. Efforts must in effect now be devoted to the systemiza- WLRQRI¿QDQFLDOPHFKDQLVPVLQRUGHUWRSXUVXHWKHHIIRUWV undertaken.

:KDWDUHWKHSURVSHFWV" After several years of strategic thinking, research and action, the achievements of cross-border cooperation and regional integration are encouraging.

CROSS-BORDER DIARIES JUNE 2007 5 SÉNÉGAMBIE MERIDIONALE

SENEGAL-THE GAMBIA-GUINEA BISSAU By Florent ARRAGAIN - Enda Diapol &RQWDFWÀRUHQWDUUDJDLQ#HQGDGLDSRORUJ « RETRARC – GUISEGAMB »

CREATION OF A CROSS-BORDER RADIO STATIONS NETWORK

2QH \HDU DIWHU WKH ODXQFKLQJ ZRUNVKRS RI WKH (&2:$6 &,3 principle coordinator. Their missions &URVVERUGHU,QLWLDWLYHV3URJUDPPH SLORWRSHUDWLRQLQVXSSRUW DUHGH¿QHGDVIROORZV RIFURVVERUGHUFRRSHUDWLRQLQ6pQpJDPELHPpULGLRQDOH JXLQHD %LVVDX6HQHJDOWKH*DPELD DFURVVERUGHUQHWZRUNRIDJURXS RIFRPPXQLW\UDGLRVWDWLRQVRIWKHWKUHHHFRXQWULHVZDVVHWXS • Work towards strengthening the cultural and economic integration of - (OHYHQ UDGLRVWDWLRQVLQWRWDOVXFFHHGLQEUHDNLQJWKHEDU the population, while respecting the ULHUV ZLWK WKH VXSSRUW RI (1'$'DLSRO WKH 6:$& DQG *7= 3URFDV :DYHV IURP WKH QHWZRUN RI &URVVERUGHU &RPPXQLW\ fundamental values of each of them; 5DGLR6WDWLRQVIURP*XLQHD%LVVDX6HQHJDODQGWKH*DPELD FDOOHG³5(75$5&±*8,6(*$0%´KDYHEHHQVHQWDFURVVWKH • Support the cross-border commu- 6HQHJDPELDQFURVVERUGHUDUHD nity radio station sector in its role of promoting exchanges and solidarity RETRARC is governed by an radio stations and a bureau comprised among populations; Executive Committee consisting of of three national coordinators and one the directors of the different member

6 CROSS-BORDER DIARIES JUNE 2007 • Contribute to synergising all of the They would like to: be instructed After several months in existence, actors and structures participating in on the legislation and regulations in RETRARC’s development seems pro- the promotion of cross-border coo- force; organise radio broadcast round- mising although it remains tenuous. peration initiatives, peace and West tables bringing together representati- In the short- and medium-term, radio African integration. ves of the population, administrative station members’ motivation and authorities such as ECOWAS in order investment in the network will depend This involves supporting radio station to discuss these issues; and and sub- on the progress made in the imple- members while protecting their inte- sequently produce an information mentation of the network’s activities. rests and strengthening their profes- campaign to raise awareness of popu- sional capacities and providing local lations on their rights and responsibi- As a process involving actors at various news items in support of regional lities in this area. levels (ECOWAS, States, local com- integration, development and the pro- PXQLWLHVORFDODVVRFLDWLRQVHWF WKH motion of cross-border cooperation. &,3 XQGHU ZKLFK the network was « RETRARC – GUISEGAMB » radios At the Network’s second meeting in created is slow in Voz de Djalicunda Djalicunda – Guinée Bissau February 2007, training for members AD Kassoumay Sao Domingos – Guinée Bissau certain respects. was set as a network priority. Endham FM Dioulacolon – Sénégal Hence, to what Awaña FM Bignona – Sénégal The capacity building needs also Radio de la paix Sindian – Sénégal extent will the involve radio broadcasts production, Kairaba FM Diouloulou – Sénégal UDWH RI WKH &,3¶V Brikama’s radio Brikama – Gambie management of material, use of new Kassoumay Ziguinchor – Sénégal progress respond IT as well as training in addressing Kouma FM Samine Escale – Sénégal to the network’s Radio Kerewan Kerewan – Gambie LVVXHVLQSRVWFRQÀLFWDUHDV Farafenni’s Radio Farafenni – Gambie development? RETRARC contact: Mr. Abdou DIAO, Coordonnateur Principal, In any case, the Email : [email protected] 3DUWLFXODUO\VHQVLWLYHWRKDUDVVPHQWWR network should which populations are subjected when Eventually, RETRARC would like to aim to be independent as quickly as crossing the border, RETRARC radio be the loudspeaker for border popula- possible. station members want to work towards tions and the numerous cross-border respecting ECOWAS laws on the free cooperation initiatives developing In addition to technical and methodo- movement of goods and people. between the three countries. logical support, the backing structures

available on the site www.oecd.org/sah

CROSS-BORDER DIARIES JUNE 2007 7 SÉNÉGAMBIE MERIDIONALE

SENEGAL-THE GAMBIA-GUINEA BISSAU should assist RETRARC in deve- FLORENT Arragain ORSLQJWKHLU¿QDQFLQJVWUDWHJLHV Enda Prospectives et Dialogues Politiques (Diapol). Its capacity to disseminate information ASSESSMENT OF THE CIP SENEGAMBIA PILOT simultaneously to various countries is an asset on which to be capitalized in OPERATION the fundraising strategy. 6LQFH LWV ODXQFKLQJ LQ 2FWREHU organisation of an assessment works- KRZ ZRXOG \RX DVVHVV WKH hop foreseen for the second semester Furthermore, it involves helping &,3 SLORW RSHUDWLRQ LQ 6HQHJDPELD of 2006 had to be postponed. GLYHUVLI\LWV¿QDQFLQJVRXUFHVORRNLQJ 0HULGLRQDO" towards different partners. In addition, ECOWAS’ understan- The assessment is overall positive &RQFUHWHO\ZKDWKDVEHHQDFKLHYHG ding of this network’s role as well as as the approach instilled hope in the RQWKHJURXQG" its commitment to work together to border populations and the motivation address cross-border and sub-regional RI ORFDO DFWRUV¶ DWWDLQHG VLJQL¿FDQW Local associations of Diouloulou issues will be two determining factors results. 6HQHJDO DQG%ULNDPD WKH*DPELD for this initiative to continue. have succeeded in mobilising com- Nevertheless, the scope and impact of munity man-power in order to repair a Due to lack of resources and the great these achievements has been slowed cross-border route linking their loca- distance separating the network radio down by the lack of funding for facili- les. stations, communication and dissemi- tation mechanisms. 7KLVFROOHFWLYHHIIRUWZDV¿QDOO\FRP- nation of information is not easy. 81'3¿QDQFLQJRIRQHIDFLOLWDWRUSHU memorated by the organisation of a As radio station members come from country, which had been suggested at cross-border cultural festival during three different countries, organising the Ziguinchor workshop, unfortuna- which joint actions to be implemen- meetings is costly due to the poor tely never came to fruition. WHGZHUHGH¿QHGLQRUGHUWRWRJHWKHU condition of the roads and the constant meet the shared challenges such as problems at border crossings. Thanks to the Sahel and West Africa isolation, accelerated degradation of Telephoning from one country to the &OXE 6:$&2(&' WKHQ PRUH forestry resources, and inter-commu- RWKHULVRIWHQGLI¿FXOWDQGWKHLQWHUQHW SXQFWXDOO\WKH*7=3URFDVZHKDYH nity tensions. is still not accessible everywhere. UHFHLYHGVRPH¿QDQFLQJ,WZDVPRUH (QGD 'LDSRO *7= 3URFDV DQG WKH Therefore logistical issues could suitable to use these funds to support SWAC/OECD support this initiative. still impede the well-functioning of the most dynamic initiatives set out RETRARC.• in the action plan and the follow-up Throughout the border areas, the num- process. ber of inter-village peace committees Contact with the initially-involved is growing in order to prevent local border populations has thus been FRQÀLFWVFDXVHGE\FDWWOHWKHIWFRP- maintained. On the other hand, the petition around land planning, wate-

8 CROSS-BORDER DIARIES JUNE 2007 ring points and forestry resources. By monise their production techniques, their interests and strengthen their joining efforts of youth organisations, set the sale price of their products as professional capacities as well as dis- customary chiefdoms and adminis- well as develop joint marketing stra- seminate local news fostering regional trative authorities, these committees tegies. integration, development and the pro- FUHDWH QHZ PRGHV RI FRQÀLFW SUH- If they receive adequate support, the motion of cross-border cooperation. vention and management combining actors of the cashew industry (cashew modern and customary rights better QXWV VKRXOGDOVREHDEOHWRRUJDQLVH Among other activities, RETRARC adapted to the cross-border context. themselves on a cross-border basis. intends to inform citizens of the three Carried by these committees’ momen- countries on their rights and responsi- tum, administrative authorities of In the area of social communication, bilities with regard to free movement neighbouring countries also meet eleven community radio stations from of goods and people. together more regularly. three countries have formed a Cross- border Community Radio Stations :KDWDUHWKHPDLQFRQVWUDLQWVIDFHG With regard to economic develo- Network of Guinea Bissau, Senegal LQLPSOHPHQWLQJWKLVSURFHVV" pment, beekeeping professionals DQG WKH *DPELD 5(75$5& from Guinea Bissau, Senegal and the Through this initiative, RETRARC )LUVWO\DQGGHVSLWHWKH&,3VSLULWWKH Gambia have set up a network to har- radio station members aim to protect coordination between these initiatives

CROSS-BORDER DIARIES JUNE 2007 9 SÉNÉGAMBIE MERIDIONALE

and national and sub-regional promo- frameworks which are either national Finally, although cross-border coo- tion of inter-State cooperation and with partner countries or regional with peration activities in Sénégambie regional integration strategies is still community organisations. 0HULGLRQDOHEHQH¿WVIURP(&2:$6¶ inadequate. The national framework is ill-adapted political support, its leadership is still The lack of facilitators with the neces- to cross-border activities involving not strong enough to guarantee the sary means in order to ensure coordi- DQG EHQH¿WLQJ E\ GH¿QLWLRQ DFWRUV needed State-level commitment. nation between promoters of cross- from two different countries. Of course, the fact that ECOWAS border projects, various concerned Regarding the regional framework, RIWHQ ODFNV ¿QDQFLDO DQG KXPDQ ministries and ECOWAS has made it the amount needed to implement resources must be taken into account; GLI¿FXOW WR FOHDUO\ GH¿QH HYHU\RQH¶V cross-border cooperation (generally but it is increasingly relying on the role. approximately a few million CFA dynamism of cross-border initiatives )UDQFV LVQRWHQRXJKWRFRPSO\ZLWK from which it will gain legitimacy In addition, the degree of convergence allocation criteria. vis-à-vis populations, the States and of the vision and the objectives pur- external partners. sued at the local and national levels Along the same lines, another chal- should be brought into question. lenge is asking development partners Furthermore, one of the cornersto- In effect, while the States’ interest is to better coordinate their interven- nes of our intervention is to support naturally geared more towards see- tions, more particularly with regard to ECOWAS and its action in order for king economic integration and shared peace and security. LW WR EHQH¿W IURP H[LVWLQJ JUDVVURRWV infrastructures, it seems that in cross- While there are increasingly more energy. border areas, there is more willingness interventions in Casamance and if too We are convinced that regional inte- to maintain good neighbourly rela- much money is injected without coor- JUDWLRQFRXOGDFWXDOO\EHVROLGL¿HGE\ tions which is a prerequisite above all dination, the current balance could placing the West African population to the implementation of cross-border be thrown off kilter, creating new at the heart of the regional integration cooperation. FRQÀLFWV RI LQWHUHVW ZKLFK ZLOO IHHG process. into the effectiveness of pre-existing Financing cross-border cooperation is regulations, widen the gaps between :KDW SURVSHFWV DUH RSHQLQJ XS another challenge to meet as it requi- advantaged regions and those which IRU FURVVERUGHU FRRSHUDWLRQ LQ res development partners to change are not, between privileged actors and 6HQHJDPELD0HULGLRQDO" position. those which are excluded from deve- 7KHGLI¿FXOW\LVLQWKHIDFWWKDWFURVV lopment aid. In the shortest amount of time, we border cooperation results from both 6XFKDVFHQDULRZRXOG¿QDOO\UHVXOWLQ intend to pursue with our partners local development and regional inte- even more acute development dispa- WKH 6:$&2(&' DQG *7= 3URFDV gration. rity between countries, which is one 3HUDFRG WKH VXSSRUW LQLWLDWHG RQ WKH Development cooperation interve- of the main factors of tension within ground for the radio station and bee- nes more often within the agreement cross-border areas. keeping professionals as well as to

10 CROSS-BORDER DIARIES JUNE 2007 the cross-border peace committee and together the three countries’ main cross-border cooperation initiatives to vested actors between Diouloulou ministries, ECOWAS representatives, all of West Africa. and Brikama in order to open up this and organisations involved in suppor- zone: by renovating the cross-border ting cross-border cooperation initiati- In all of these areas of interven- production routes, the reforestation ves. tion, emphasis will be placed on the of cross-border forestry zones, inter- This will involve evaluating the pilot exchange of experiences between community dialogue for re-building operation’s strengths and weaknesses, West African border region initiatives peace and concertation between GH¿QLQJWKHOHVVRQVOHDUQHGRXWOLQLQJ and European border regions within Gambian and Senegalese transporta- future orientations and deciding more a collaborative framework still to be tion unions. precisely on everyone’s role. GH¿QHGEXWZLOOQHYHUWKHOHVVEHODXQ- ched at the Africa-Europe Conference We will also launch a tri-annual peace At the West African level, we will on Cross-border Cooperation to be and cross-border security programme. continue to work alongside our par- held during the second semester of Within this framework, prospective tners of the SWAC/OECD, other pilot 2007.• research will be emphasised enabling operations and ECOWAS in order Interview carried out by E. Salliot new perceptions of the changes unde- WR SURYLGH WKH &,3 ZLWK WKH SROLWLFDO rway in West Africa and which should GLPHQVLRQ DQG ¿QDQFLDO UHVRXUFHV be addressed from a border perspec- required to reach its goals. Within this tive. framework, the recent re-organisation This research will help garner support of ECOWAS is a very positive evol- for high-integration-potential econo- ution. mic industries in the concerted management of cross-border natural resour- In effect, cross-border cooperation ces, the valorisation and strengthe- DQG WKH &,3 DUH FOHDUO\ PDQDJHG E\ ning of peace initiatives, the lobbying the Directorate of Free Movement of for the free movement of people and 3HRSOH goods as well as the strengthening of awareness of West African citizenry. We are currently working with our partners to develop a one-year project 3ULRUWRWKLVZHWKLQNWKDWWKH&,3SLORW which will enable, on the one hand, operation in Senegambia Meridional the strengthening of and capitalising needs to be assessed and the institutio- on existing pilot operations’ achieve- QDOVWHHULQJSURFHVVUHGH¿QHGZLWKLQ ments and, on the other, to carry out a States and ECOWAS. development, negotiation and valida- We are planning to organise, in the WLRQSURFHVVRIDWULDQQXDO&,3SUR- very near future, a meeting bringing gramme aiming to expand support to

CROSS-BORDER DIARIES JUNE 2007 11 SÉNÉGAMBIE MERIDIONALE

SENEGAL-THE GAMBIA-GUINEA BISSAU By Lotje de Vries and Emmanuel Salliot Enda Prospectives et Dialogues Politiques THE ROUTE TO A MINI CULTURAL FESTIVAL

:LWK WKH ¿QDQFLDO VXSSRUW RI *7= 3URFDV 6HQHJDOHVH*HUPDQ FRRSHUDWLRQ¶V 6RFLRHFRQRPLF 'HYHORSPHQW3URJUDPPHIRU3HDFHLQ&DVDPDQFH EHWZHHQ-XQHDQG6HSWHPEHUPRUHWKDQ SHRSOHZRPHQ¶V\RXWKDQGWUDQVSRUWHUFRPPXQLW\RUJDQLVDWLRQVZHUHPRELOLVHGWRUHQRYDWH DFURVVERUGHUURXWH$IWHUZRUNLQJXSDVZHDW¿OOLQJLQDQGVPRRWKLQJRYHUWKHKROHVWKHUHZDV DFHOHEUDWRU\EUHDN$IWHUGDLO\FRPPXQLW\GLVFXVVLRQVRQSHDFHDQGIRUJLYHQHVVZKLOHZRUNLQJ WRJHWKHUWKH6HQHJDOHVHDQG*DPELDQFURVVERUGHUFRPPXQLWLHVRUJDQLVHGDFXOWXUDOIHVWLYDOWR FHOHEUDWHWKHUHQHZHGFRPPXQLRQ7KHPHHWLQJIRUWKHUHQRYDWLRQRIDURXWHSDYHGWKHZD\IRUD PLQLIHVWLYDOZKLFKNHHSVWRWKHQHZFURVVERUGHUWUDGLWLRQ

onferences and seminars to renovate a cross-border produc- their survival. Many of the Diouloulou are excellent opportunities tion route between Diouloulou and and Kafountine rural communities and Cfor development actors to Brikama; and to organise a cultural the Gambian villages of Marakissa, make contacts. event brining together all of the bor- Dar Salam, Sifo as well as organisa- At the workshop held under the aus- der communities. tions located in Brikama all participa- pices of ECOWAS launching the WHGLQWKLVLQLWLDWLYH´ pilot operation in support of cross- 3DXO$ELE6DJQD$6$3,'3UHVLGHQW border cooperation in Senegambia ³7KLV NLORPHWUH URXWH EHWZHHQ Together, these institutions decided 0HULGLRQDO 2FWREHU FRQFUHWH Diouloulou and Brikama via WR UHTXHVW ¿QDQFLDO VXSSRUW IURP and constructive collaborations were Koudioubé urgently needed to be *7= 3URFDV VXSSRUW SURJUDPPH established: renovated because populations travel for the socio-economic development this route to trade their market garden for peace in Casamance – Senegalo- In addition to the workshop, represen- products, their mangos and their oran- *HUPDQFRRSHUDWLRQ DQGWRPRELOLVH tatives of community associations such ges. various community women, youth DV$6$3,'8)'1 8QLRQGX)RJQ\ Here we are closer to the Gambia 'LDEDQJ HW GX 1DUDQ 6HQHJDO DQG and Senegalese Kartong Kabajo Link for Cooperation border products 7KH *DPELD GLVFXVVHG FROODERUD- are traded more tive possibilities among their organi- in Brikama than sations and their respective commu- in Bignona or nities based in the Western Region Ziguinchor. of the Gambia and in the Bignona This explains Department of Casamance. the populations’ mobility because Their mutual exchange led to the it is a question of actual undertaking of two activities: DAGAT - ASAPID - CADP

12 CROSS-BORDER DIARIES JUNE 2007 and transporter organisations to help DWUDFWRUWRKHOSXV¿OOLQWKHKROHVRQ town. In a friendly atmosphere, groups renovate this route. WKHURXWH´ of women working together cleaned More than 500 people invested $IWHU UHQRYDWLQJ WKH URXWH¶V ¿UVW up the piles of dust in every nook and their time daily between June and kilometres, the institutions wanted to cranny so that the matriarchs would 6HSWHPEHU WR ¿OO LQ WKH KROHV thank all of the volunteers who contri- prepare the meals for the participants in order to be able to use the route to buted to the initiative by organising an of the three-day festival. transport local products and for villa- event celebrating the efforts underta- At the same time, in the community gers to be able to move about. ken by all who worked towards cross- UDGLR VWDWLRQ RI¿FHV WKH RUJDQLVHUV border development hence the organi- ¿QLVKHG WKH ¿QDO SUHSDUDWLRQV DQG Every day local conversation on peace sation of a mini cultural festival. decided how to have media coverage and forgiveness bringing the army, of the speeches and concerts. combatants, the police and villagers A logistical committee consisting together moved the work forward. RI WKH $6$3,' 8)'1 WKH &$'3 *7= 3URFDV SURYLGHG D ¿QDQFLDO and the Kartong- contribution to the project. The asso- Kabajo Link for FLDWLRQVDOVRSURYLGHG¿QDQFLQJIURP Cooperation was their own resources for water and responsible for brin- food. ging this event to fruition. 6RXOH\PDQH'DER8)'16HFUHWDU\ General congratulates the organizers: :LWK WKH ¿QDQ- Set settal campaign. ³(YHU\RQH FRPHV WR ZRUN ZLWK cial and technical support from GTZ On 17 November, the processions of CFA Francs and a little bit of rice. 3URFDV WKH 6DKHO DQG :HVW $IULFD minibuses and taxis brought in the When expenses were too much, we Club and Enda Diapol, these institu- troupes and the guests to Diouloulou DVNHG3URFDVWRKHOSXVIHHGWKHZRU- tions were able to organise a major ZKLOH WKHUH ZDV D ¿QDO YLVLW WR WKH kers. In any case, this route is particu- event in this border area. 6XE3UHIHFWXUHWRHQVXUHWKDWWKHRSH- ODUO\SUR¿WDEOH They were also able to take advantage ning ceremony would be held without 6LQFHUHQRYDWLQJWKH¿UVWNLORPH- of all the participating regional popu- a hitch prior to the festivities. tres, people use it a lot but the pro- lations to carry out strategic thinking blem remains. on ways to undertake new activities 7KH6XE3UHIHWDVZHOODVWKH'LUHFWRU between communities residing on RI *HQHUDO$IIDLUV RI /DQG 3ODQQLQJ There is still more to do and we are ERWKVLGHVRIWKHERUGHU VHHER[ '$*$7 6DOLRX 6DPERX HPRWLR- not quitting. During the next dry nally and warmly welcomed partici- season, we are going try to dig with In the days preceding the festival, the pants. our picks and then request support for Diouloulou population cleaned up the

CROSS-BORDER DIARIES JUNE 2007 13 SÉNÉGAMBIE MERIDIONALE

8QIRUWXQDWHO\ WKHLU Gambian counterparts were unable to arrive at the opening ceremony on time. After a series of theatarical, musical and choreographed presentations, the Super Band Mama Sakho of Bandjikaki began playing at sundown.

Most of the people impatiently stamped their feet while waiting for the music to The Super band Mama Sakho of Bandjikaki begin and were delighted dancing to populations strongly affected by years nity at such events to engage popu- the lively rhythms of the Super Band RIFRQÀLFW lations in dialogue on the causes of Mama Sakho. Their concerts in Mandingue have socio-political problems which persist This musical troupe is known for its enabled communities to renew their in the region. endeavours to recreate a link between common culture. The Mama Sakho The Gambian border zone along troupe has always taken the opportu- with the Diouloulou arrondissement has been particularly affected by the Casamance crisis for over a year. Hence the Gambian population has sought to take advantage of the opportunity provided by a musical troupe such as Super Band Mama Sakho which combines celebration and dance through traditional melodies to promote community dialogue on sensitive issues.

Culture in support of peace was one of the three themes debated at the group

Manifestations théâtrales avec le CM de Djinacki workshop held on 18 November. With

14 CROSS-BORDER DIARIES JUNE 2007 Commandant that the army would help the troupe enter what are now very sensitive areas so that it could pursue its dialogue with communities.

$¿UVWVWHSZDVPDGHLQ'LRXORXORX The next phase will include a better understanding of the activities undertaken with decentralised administrations and central States as well as to increasingly involve populations in order to ensure that the action plan

Musical and choreographed presentations. will be implemented with everyone’s the participation of the Gambian com- for joint action. The organising insti- support.• munities and those of the Diouloulou tutions of this festival shall implement arronidssement, the debates were this action plan with the technical and lively and fruitful. ¿QDQFLDOVXSSRUWRISRWHQWLDOSDUWQHUV The cross-border action plan deve- VXFK DV *7= 3URFDV WKH 6DKHO DQG West Africa Club and Enda Diapol.

The mini Diouloulou festival shed light on the number of existing cross-border cooperation initiatives in this part of Senegambia.

After a passionate appeal by Daouda ³%RVV´ 6RQNR loped at this workshop will integrate &$'3 3UHVLGHQW GXULQJ WKH FOR- already existing cooperation initiatives sing speeches, Super Band Mama as well as take into account new areas Sakho was assured by the Brigade

CROSS-BORDER DIARIES JUNE 2007 15 SÉNÉGAMBIE MERIDIONALE

STRENGTHENING INITIATIVES

The mini cross-border festival was also an opportunity to join regional forces around various themes discussed in order to develop a cross-border action plan. This action plan is particularly based on the consolidation of already existing initiatives that require expertise and mobilisation of all communities located in this border zone between the Diouloulou arrondissement in Senegal and the Western Region of the Gambia. Community association representatives had the choice to participate in one of the working groups addressing the three following themes: • Concerted management of natural resources • Economic development and free circulation of persons and goods • Culture in support of peace

$OOLQDOOFORVHWRRQHKXQGUHGSHRSOHIURPWKLVERUGHU]RQH¿UVWUHIHUUHGWRWKHDFWLYLWLHVDOUHDG\XQGHUZD\LQRUGHUWR assess the constraint so as to discuss the next year-long actions to be undertaken. 7KHDFWLRQVZKLFKZHUHVHWRXWLQWKH³&RQFHUWHGPDQDJHPHQWRIQDWXUDOUHVRXUFHV´JURXSFRQFHUQDFWLYLWLHVUHODWHGWR combating deforestation and salinization. The second group suggested to revive the collaboration between Gambian and Senegalese transportation unions and to bring to the attention of authorities the poor state of the roads and routes crossing the border. The third group’s objective was to increase the cross-border meetings between communities on themes such as peace, forgiveness and development. :LWKLQWKHDFWLRQSODQLQVWLWXWLRQV¶UHVSRQVLELOLWLHVZHUHGH¿QHGDQGFRPSOHWLRQGDWHVVHWRXW+RZHYHUWKHUHDUHD VLJQL¿FDQWQXPEHURIFRQVWUDLQWVWRIDFHLQRUGHUIRUWKHVHDFWLRQSODQVWREHLPSOHPHQWHGZKLFKZLOOUHTXLUHWKHUHJXODU involvement of decentralised administrations, customs and border police. +HQFH D ¿UVW DZDUHQHVVUDL- sing meeting was held on 20 December 2006 with Gambian and Senegalese administrative services at the Seleti border post. More recently, a working session was held in Diouloulou on 10 February 2007 at which a series of meetings was planned before creating two committees which will be responsible IRU GH¿QLQJ SULRULW\ DFWLRQV to undertake over the coming months.• 16 CROSS-BORDER DIARIES JUNE 2007 The Sahelian landlocked country of Niger, served mostly by the ports of Cotonou (Benin) and Lomé (Togo)

CROSS-BORDER DIARIES JUNE 2007 17 AMENAGEMENT TRANSFRONTALIER

NIGER By Michel Bolouvi

DOSSO OR GAYA? THE DRY PORT ACQUIRES WATER.

)LUVWWKHUHZDVD:RUOG%DQNUHFRPPHQGDWLRQWKHQDIHDVLELOLW\VWXG\D¿UVWFKRLFHDQGWKHQD VSOLWGHFLVLRQ7KHGU\SRUWSURMHFWYDFLOODWHVEHWZHHQ'RVVRDQG*D\D

t all started at the end of the 1990s when a IWorld Bank study advocated setting up dry ports in all West African hinterland countries.

The aim was to improve WKHKDQGOLQJRIWUDI¿FFRO- lect more taxes and create better working conditions for economic operators.

The Sahelian landlocked country of Niger, served mostly by the ports of &RWRQRX %HQLQ DQG/RPp 7RJR VKRXOGVHWXSDGU\ port in it capital, Niamey, and on its borders, in particular in the administrative regions of Zinder (on the south-east border with 1LJHULD $UOLW LQ WKH$JDGH] UHJLR- This should not be a problem although dry port of the country’s south west QDO GHSDUWPHQW ERUGHULQJ $OJHULD some of the towns are not on the bor- region. Agadez (on the northern border with der and up to now the dry port’s role Gaya is a genuine border town with an $OJHULD/LE\DDQG&KDG 0DUDGL RQ KDV EHHQ WDNHQ RQ E\ FXVWRPV RI¿- LPSRVLQJFXVWRPVRI¿FHDWWKHWRZQ¶V WKHVRXWKFHQWUDOERUGHUZLWK1LJHULD ces of border towns of which one is entrance on the left bank of the river, and Dosso (on the south-west border Gaya. and a natural border with Benin on ZLWK%HQLQDQG1LJHULD As a result, there are objections to the right bank. In Gaya to facilitate Dossa being chosen to house the customs here are administrative buil-

18 CROSS-BORDER DIARIES JUNE 2007 $UHOLHIPDSZDVGUDZQXS3URJRVD HVWLPDWHG ¿QDQFLQJ WR EH DERXW billion FCFA Francs which was then revised to 100 million FCFA. The Minister of Transport baulked, ³1RZD\´

1RZ FRQWLQXHV 0U ,EUDKLP ³WKH Netherlands company, Maerks, is interested in building the port and

Parking douane Gaya supplying the construction material. dings, an area where more than one nomic aspect which should have been 7KH\OHGD¿HOGPLVVLRQLQ'RVVRLQ hundred trucks can park and warehou- foreseen. December and since no word. We are ses to stock products passing through ZDLWLQJ´:KDWHYHU 0LQLVWHULDO GHFL- customs and, enough space for a pos- This can be a textbook case for the sible expansion. Ministry of Transport responsible for Customs in Gaya already has all the this issue, because, as indicates Elhadj dry port equipment: a terminal with a Ouayou Ibrahim, Regional Director of platform, its warehouses and adminis- Land Transport in Dosso, of the 6 dry tration. SRUWSURMHFWVLQ1LJHU³RQO\WKRVHRI 1LDPH\DQG'RVVRDUHQHZVZRUWK\´ On the other hand, Dosso, located 150 km from the Niamey border appears 7KHRQHLQ1LDPH\LVFRQ¿UPHGDQG to be vacant land. ZLOO EH VHW XS RQ ³WKH ULJKW EDQN RI Elhadj Ouayou Ibrahim Everything would need to be built to WKHULYHU´ sion to set up a port in Dosso, rumours set up a dry port. And then there is the one in Dosso. on the work beginning and mobilisa- In Gaya, it is widely publicized, Excuse me! In the Dosso region. tion are debated in Gaya … ³FKRRVLQJ WR VHW XS WKH GU\ SRUW LQ

'RVVRLVWRUHORFDWHLW´ According to Elhadj Ouayou Ibrahim, ³+RZHYHUQRWRQHVWRQHKDV\HWEHHQ ³WKH 6SDQLVK FRPSDQ\ 3URJRVD ZDV moved. Only one donor came to do an *D\D FODLPV WKDW LWV HI¿FLHQF\ DQG interested. HFRQRPLFDQGIHDVLELOLW\VWXG\´UHV- capacity as a dry port and the project Its experts came to Dosso and selec- ponds Elhadj Ouayou Ibrahim to the ZLOORQO\LQIDFWFRQ¿UPWKLV ted a 9 hectare area graciously provi- rumour that infrastructure construc- The dry port issue in this region crea- ded by the Mayor with the option to tion has begun in Dosso. tes rivalries over and above the eco- expand.

CROSS-BORDER DIARIES JUNE 2007 19 AMENAGEMENT TRANSFRONTALIER

$FFRUGLQJWRKLP³LIWKHGU\SRUWLQ Are the Gods appeased? In Dosso and Gaya was built on the second-hand 'RVVRLVSUR¿WDEOHLWZLOOEHEXLOWLQ Gaya both populations yearn for it. FORWKLQJ EXVLQHVV 8QWLO WKHUH Dosso. If not, another site must be was nothing here. VRXJKW7KH¿UVWGRQRUVDZWKDWLWZDV In Dossa they are enthusiastic about Also, we are only renters; owners are QRWSUR¿WDEOHDQGKHOHIW7KHVHFRQG the project. In Gaya, they are on guard. JRLQJWRLQFUHDVLQJO\ORVHRXW´ one is here and we are waiting. ³:LWK SROLWLFLDQV \RX QHYHU NQRZ´ says Fadel, a Lebanese manager of But traders must always be pragma- If the donor chooses Dosso, there an international clothing and textiles tic. Fadel and his deputy Aziz, are would obligatorily be representation FRPSDQ\LQ*D\D³6HWWLQJXSDGU\ SUHSDUHGIRUWKHRXWFRPH³YHU\FHU- in Gaya. port in Dosso would be robbing us, it tainly, we are going to set up again in There is no way that merchandise des- ZLOOFRPSOLFDWHRXUOLYHV³ Malanville where we still have stores tined for Gaya should arrive in Dosso RUHYHQLQ&RWRQRX´ only to be turned around to Gaya after +HH[SODLQV³)RURXUFOLHQWV'RVVR DOO WKH RI¿FLDO SURFHGXUHV ,W LV QRW is far away. Most of clients come from They are still convinced that Gaya HFRQRPLFDO´ 6RNRWR 1LJHULD YLD.DPED 1LJHULDQ is the best place to set up the regio- ERUGHUWRZQZLWK*D\D DERXWNP nal dry port and that to go to Dosso %XWUXPRXUVWRRNWKHOHDG³DVVRRQ IURP*D\D´ ZRXOG³GLVUXSWWKHPDUNHWUDWKHUWKDQ as people heard something, tempers strengthen it. PDQLIHVWHGPDUFKHVHWF´ )RUKLP³WKHFRQVHTXHQFHVZRXOGEH /XFNLO\KHDWWHVWV³WKH3ULPH0LQLVWHU disastrous. Nothing is more important We don’t want to set up in Dosso intervened and the problem was resol- than the second-hand clothing sector EHFDXVHLWZLOONLOORXUEXVLQHVV´1R ved. which has more than 40 stores here comment! +HFRQ¿UPHGWKDWWKHSURMHFWZDVRQO\ and we cannot start elsewhere. Does he believe that with the interven- in the study phase, awaiting results. tion of Department politicians there Consequently, we will see whether it is Gaya or Dosso which will be cho- VHQ´

Gaya was built on the second-hand clothing business. Most of clients come from Sokoto

20 CROSS-BORDER DIARIES JUNE 2007 could be a change of mind in favour is going to kill our business, we will of Gaya? return from whence we came in search ³:HKDYHKHOGVHYHUDOPHHWLQJVDQG RIRWKHUHFRQRPLFRSSRUWXQLWLHV´ our Deputy Youba Diallo (read inter- Economic operators have the support YLHZ 'U\ SRUW FRQWURYHUVLDO SRUW of native Gayan politicians and of the has told us not to worry. entire departmental population. But here we don’t have any news and The population essentially earns its we don’t know how far the project has revenue from cross-border trade and SURJUHVVHG´ in particular all sorts of business Ibrahim Hamadou generated from setting up customs in Bleak calculations also with WKHPRPHQWRIWUXWK³:HKDYHKHOG the town. Ibrahim Hamadou, manager of the meetings and protested against setting Etablissements Harouna Mallam, up the port in Dosso. The town’s growth is closely linked owner of three stores with an ove- If, after all, the port is moved to Dosso, to the border customs post which has rall capacity of 20 to 30 000 bales of we are going to move back to our old been able to bring together economic second-hand clothing. sites in Malanville (Benin town on the operators from various activity sec- ³,IDOOPHUFKDQGLVHPXVWEHWUDQVSRU- right bank of the river, bordering with tors in Gaya. ted to Dosso, we will incur a supple- *D\D ³ Thus, although lagging behind Dosso mentary roundtrip cost, or 300 km. ,EUDKLP+DPDGRXFRQFOXGHV³'RVVR from an administrative point of view, How will this affect our prices? does not suit us. A trader always seeks banks and mobile telephone opera- a situation which suits him. tors have set up in Gaya way before Currently, from Gaya we pay only Dosso. transport to Nigeria. With the dry port We come to a country to work and LQ'RVVRZHDOVRKDYHWRFRXQWRI¿- if the country creates a situation that cial port fees which add on to the total SULFHRIWKHPHUFKDQGLVH´

His refusal to consider moving to Dosso is explained by the fact that ³DOPRVWDOORIWKHFOLHQWVDURXQG come from Nigeria, through Kamba or Dan Issa (border town with Nigeria YLD0DUDGL JRLQJWKURXJK'RVVR´

Just like all the large economic operators set up in Gaya, he is preparing for The International clothing & textiles

CROSS-BORDER DIARIES JUNE 2007 21 AMENAGEMENT TRANSFRONTALIER

Dosso, the regional town is, in many DRY PORT, CONTROVERSIAL PORT aspects, less dynamic than Gaya the 7KH\IRXJKWDJDLQVWWKHFKRLFHRI'RVVR7KH\KROGRXWKRSHWR Departmental town. Setting up a bor- WKH'HSDUWPHQWRI*D\DWRZLQWKHUHJLRQDOEDWWOHIRUWKHGU\SRUW GHUFXVWRPVRI¿FHLQ*D\DKDVIRVWH- +HUHWKH\WHOOWKHLUVLGHV red a socio-economic boom, and its relocation to Dosso is perceived as a Deputy Mamadou Youba Diallo, tragedy. former Director General of $ ³0DQDJHPHQW &RPPLWWHH RQ WKH Customs for Niger (2000-2005), GU\SRUWLVVXH´KDVEHHQFUHDWHGFKDL- 'LUHFWRURIWKH&DELQHW&RMX¿V red by a Gayan native, former minis- (Legal Tax Counsel and Customs ter and deputy. 2I¿FHU 1DWLRQDO 'HSXW\ VLQFH 2005. The issue has become highly political and the protests have left the street and the issue has now been placed on the agenda of the National Assembly ,VWKHUHUHDOO\DGU\SRUWSUREOHPLQ activity, to the point where some loca- where Gaya has a deputy who has 1LJHUDVLVWKHLPSUHVVLRQLQ'RVVR les are demanding the opening of a promised his electors to defend their DQG*D\D" FXVWRPVRI¿FH interests.

The project has become a problem. It is a current and sensitive issue: cur- :KDW GRHV WKH SUREOHP HQWDLO ZLWK Some, like the Counsellor of the rent because there is a policy to set IDYRXULQJWKHGU\SRUWLQ*D\DWRWKDW Transport Minister responsible for up dry ports in all of the West African RIVHWWLQJXSRQHLQ'RVVR" this issue, have not been interviewed hinterland countries. LQRUGHUWRSURYLGHFODUL¿FDWLRQ To decide to set up a dry port you have The story of the dry port is not over By setting up dry ports, we believe to consider previous situations and \HWHYHQLIWKH3ULPH0LQLVWHU¶VSULR- WKDWKDQGOLQJWUDI¿FFDQEHPRUHHI¿- depict the interests involved. On the rity for the next two years in the trans- cient and that we can collect taxes and other hand, deciding to make a choice portation sector is to set up a railroad. create better working conditions for LQYROYHVGH¿QLQJFULWHULD economic operators. At the very least, the parties involved This would extend the Benin railway must also be informed, a transparent IURP3DUDNRXWRIXWXUHLURQSURGXFWLRQ The World Bank encouraged the esta- study must be carried out so that eve- plants in Say (town located around 50 blishment of dry ports with these three ryone can examine the stakes. .PWRWKHVRXWKRI1LDPH\ ZLWKWUDLQ objectives in mind. Finally, setting up a dry port in a stations in Gaya, Dosso and Niamey.• 8(02$ FRXQWU\ PXVW WDNH LQWR Currently, customs activities have a account, in my opinion, building huge impact on regional economic

22 CROSS-BORDER DIARIES JUNE 2007 MX[WDSRVHGERUGHURI¿FHVLQRUGHUWR GAYA’S SUICIDE avoid creating other problems. Because we have not looked at all Ibrahim Beïdou, the aspects, the issue of a dry port in former Minister of Niger has faced problems and is still Judiciary, Guard of Sceaux in the beginning stages. (1994-95) and National Deputy (1970-74), Gaya

:KDWH[DFWO\LVWKHSUREOHP" native, Chairman of the “Management Committee

The Transport Ministry, which is on the dry port issue “. managing this operation, decided to ³7KHUH DUH PDQ\ LQWHUHVWV set up a port in Dosso and this unila- at play in this dry port issue teral decision was not accepted by the between Dosso and Gaya. economic operators in Gaya. Interests of the State, banks, transporters and economic 7KH\ ZHUH WKH ¿UVW WR GHPRQVWUDWH operators must be taken into their discontent which was sub- account not mentioning the population. Hence there are 4 interested parties. sequently followed by the entire The Minister has not responded to these parties on the impact of his choice to Department’s population. The protests set up the port in Dosso. I believe that transporters are going to lose out on the drew thousands of people from a 150 route between the border and the dry port if it is in Dosso., which is 150 Km. km radius. The banks in Gaya used by the economic operators are also going to lose out. And Gaya is the only Department with so many banks outside of the capital. As regional native political leaders, 7KH\KDQGOHELOOLRQVRIIUDQFVRIWKHPRQH\RIWKHVHEDQNVEHORQJVWR we are interested in the issue and RSHUDWRUVRI%HQLQDQG1LJHULQWKH]RQHEHWZHHQ.DQGL LQ%HQLQ DQG*D\D have carried out a study on how the Minister’s decision’s impact on public ¿QDQFHVHFRQRPLFRSHUDWRUDQGWUDQV- porter activities.

This study aims to demonstrate that we do not think that this choice is more advantageous both for the interests of the State and for the economic operators, bankers and transporters from Niger.

Dosso is a crossroads for merchandise passing through

CROSS-BORDER DIARIES JUNE 2007 23 CROSS-BORDER PLANNING

The State, who should also win, is going to lose because the banks, the trans- interested in the project and a study porters and the economic operators are going to see their activities come to a was carried out solely in Dosso. halt. We say that this issue should be discussed transparently and convince us

RIWKHEHQH¿WVRIVHWWLQJXSWKHSRUWLQ'RVVR,ZLOOHYHQVD\WRPRYHIURP ,VKRXVLQJDSRUWVRLPSRUWDQWWRHOL- Gaya to Dosso because Gaya already functions as a port. Gaya is a large com- FLWVXFKVWURQJUHDFWLRQV" mercial centre more important than Dosso, straddling 2 borders and even 3 with Niger; Gaya is a commercial trade crossroads, while Dosso is a crossroads A dry port is a container terminal from for merchandise passing through. It is not the same thing. A crossroads where which goods are sent to the interior people pass, it is like a roundabout, people meet up and pass each other going DQGRWKHUFRXQWULHV7KHWUDI¿FZKLFK on to take their own route. On the other hand, because of its position on the currently goes through Gaya includes border, Gaya is trade crossroads between 3 countries. DERXWRIWKHPHUFKDQGLVHGHVWL- In addition, the economic operators located in Malanville have endeavoured, ned for Nigeria without having to go after political lobbying, to set up in Gaya. through Dosso. Why then set up a port 0RYLQJWKHSRUWWR'RVVRZRXOGNLOO*D\D+HQFHRXUVORJDQ³7KHGU\SRUW 150 km inland while bypassing a large RU*D\D¶VGHDWK6WRS*D\D¶VXLFLGH´'RQ¶WWDNH3LHUUH¶VFORWKHVWRRXW¿W3DXO town located on the border where it DQGLQWKLVFDVH3LHUUH¶VFORWKHVGRQ¶WHYHQ¿W3DXO´• was envisaged on a regional level to FUHDWHMX[WDSRVHGFXVWRPVRI¿FHV"

,VLWWUXHWKDW\RXKDYHEURXJKWWKLV WKH3ULPH0LQLVWHUZDVDOVRIRUFHGWR The dry port should be integrated LVVXHWRWKH6WDWHOHYHO" UHFHLYHNH\DFWRUVLQKLVRI¿FHWRFOD- LQWR WKH MX[WDSRVHG RI¿FH :H ZLOO rify the situation. then save on an escort and roundtrip We have brought this issue before He was more interested by the railroad between the dry port and the juxta- 3DUOLDPHQWDQGWKH7UDQVSRUW0LQLVWHU SURMHFW ZKLFK ZLOO OLQN 3DUDNRX LQ SRVHGRI¿FH was called. After 3 hours of debate, the %HQLQ WR *D\D 'RVVR DQG 1LDPH\ National Assembly decided to write with a terminal in Say for an iron *D\D ZRXOG EH WKH PRVW SUDFWLFDO to the government requesting that all mining project in this area. In his eyes, EXW ZKDW GRHV LW RIIHU LQ WHUPV RI work undertaken by the Minister on this project is more important than the LQIUDVWUXFWXUH" this dry port project be stopped and to dry port and falls within his priority FDUU\RXW¿QDQFLDOWHFKQLFDODQGHFR- for the next two years. In Gaya, infrastructure is already in nomic studies to see which location As for the dry port, he explained that place, it would only be a matter of ZRXOG EH PRUH SUR¿WDEOH IRU 1LJHU from now on, the different parties will adding 3 or 4 large warehouses, admi- The National Assembly understood be involved in the feasibility studies. QLVWUDWLYH RI¿FHV IRU WKH SRUW DQG D that the Minister’s choice was gui- container terminal. There is enough ded by political rather than economic $QGZKHUHLVWKHSURMHFWWRGD\" room, it would cost at the most 2 reasons. billion CFA francs, thus less costly for Furthermore, taking into account the $IWHUWKH¿UVWGRQRUOHIW0DHUNWKH Niger.• extent of the contestation in Gaya, company from The Netherlands, was Interview carried out by Michel Bolouvi

24 CROSS-BORDER DIARIES JUNE 2007 CROSS-BORDER DIARIES JUNE 2007 25 EUROPE - AFRIQUE

By Marie Tremolières

WHICH PARTNERSHIPS AND RESOURCES CAN ENCOURAGE CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION? INTERVIEWS WITH NORMAND LAUZON, DIRECTOR OF THE SWAC AND LAURENT BOSSARD, DEPUTY DIRECTOR.

7KH6:$&¶VLQWHUYHQWLRQDWWKHPHHWLQJRUJDQLVHGE\WKH$8LQ %DPDNRLQ0DUFKRQWKHGHYHORSPHQWRILWVERUGHUSUR- JUDPPHDGGUHVVHGWKHSDUWQHUVKLSVDQG¿QDQFLDOWRROVQHFHVVDU\ IRUWKHUDSLGGHYHORSPHQWRIFURVVERUGHUFRRSHUDWLRQLQ$IULFD 7KLVUHSUHVHQWVDQHZFKDOOHQJHIRUUHJLRQDOLQWHJUDWLRQRUJD- QLVDWLRQVDQGGRQRUV,WLVLQFUHDVLQJO\LQOLQHZLWKWKH$IULFDQ 8QLRQ¶VYLVLRQWKDWLVEDVHGRQWZRNH\LGHDV

7KH¿UVWLGHD³:LWKLQWKHFRQWH[WRIDGYDQFLQJJOREDOLVDWLRQDQG UHJLRQDOLVDWLRQLQWKH1RUWKDVLQWKH6RXWKUHJLRQDOLQWHJUDWLRQ VKRXOGEHWKHVWUDWHJLFWUDQVIRUPDWLRQDQGPRGHUQLVDWLRQPRGHO sense, including professional organi- RI$IULFDQHFRQRPLHV´ sations and NGOs. 7KHVHFRQGLGHD³,IWKHLQWHJUDWLRQSURFHVVDLPVWRUHVWLPX- They should be the direct initiators ODWHWKH6WDWHV¶UROHLQWHJUDWLRQPXVWKHQFHIRUWKKDYHDZLGHDQG of cross-border cooperation projects, SRSXODUEDVH´ provide suggestions, as well as being

7R NQRZ PRUH WKH 'LDULHV PHW ZLWK WZR SDUWLFLSDQWV DW WKH the actors implementing these sugges- %DPDNRPHHWLQJ1RUPDQG/DX]RQ'LUHFWRURIWKH6:$&DQG tions with the support of necessary /DXUHQW%RVVDUG'HSXW\'LUHFWRU technical expertise.

:KDW VKRXOG WKH 6WDWHV¶ UROH EH LQ Empowered with these new respon- As a case in point, in Senegambia VXFKDFRQWH[W" sibilities, local communities should Meridional, cross-border radio sta- be able to play an important role in tions decided to form a network faci- Laurent Bossard: Cross-border coo- regional integration within the scope litating the dissemination of messages peration cannot be carried out without of their competencies. in the health, security and economic the strong political will clearly sectors. expressed by the States. 8QGHUWKHVHFRQGLWLRQVKRZFDQWKH This network set up needed no techni- This political will already exists YDULRXVOHYHOVRIDFWRUVEHFRRUGLQD- cal intervention other than at the local through decentralization. WHG" level as these involved radio stations ,QPRVW$IULFDQFRXQWULHVODZVGH¿QH are private. the conditions under which local L.B.: At the local level: Local actors 1HYHUWKHOHVVDQRI¿FLDOGHPDQGZDV authorities must carry out their respon- are at the same time representatives made to the ECOWAS regional repre- VLELOLWLHV LQFOXGLQJ¿QDQFLDO WKURXJK of the central States, locally-elected sentative to extend the laws of free ZKDWLVFRPPRQO\FDOOHG³WUDQVIHURI RI¿FLDOVFLYLOVRFLHW\LQWKHEURDGHVW circulation. This approach illustrates VNLOOV´

26 CROSS-BORDER DIARIES JUNE 2007 the direct link that can exist between ODXQFKHGZLWKDYLHZWRWKH¿UVW3DQ the local and regional levels. African Ministerial Conference on These two examples demonstrate the Cross-border Cooperation (envisaged diversity of the relationship and the IRU 0D\ LQ$GGLV$EDED SHU- interdependencies at the local level fectly illustrates the role and position with other levels of governance. RIWKH$IULFDQ8QLRQ

At the national level: 7KH&RPPLVVLRQRIWKH$IULFDQ8QLRQ in all African countries, central admi- is also the only structure that can pro- nistrations are represented in border vide cross-border cooperation with a zones. global policy. But the States’ role in cross-border This is fundamental because for the cooperation cannot only be limited to time being, African cross-border coo- facilitating local initiatives. It should peration is not yet on the important Laurent Bossard intervene at the outset to provide the LQWHUQDWLRQDODJHQGDV´ essential legitimacy to cross-border to encourage the development of pilot cooperation. operations on the ground and to pro- +RZHYHUDVXQGHUVFRUHGE\/DXUHQW The State is thus at the centre of this YLGH :HVW$IULFD ZLWK WKH ¿UVW GUDIW %RVVDUG FURVVERUGHU FRRSHUDWLRQ mechanism of which it is the political legal framework on border coopera- LV DW WKH KHDUW RI WKH PRVW XUJHQW driver. Local legitimacy does not at tion. LVVXHV all diminish the national legitimacy; it ECOWAS now seems to be lacking makes it more powerful by bringing a regional cross-border cooperation N.L.: In the area of regional migration, together populations in the regional ¿QDQFLQJ LQVWUXPHQW VRPHZKDW OLNH anticipating populations next move- integration process impelled by the that which is in operation in Europe. ments is the major issue; in particu- State. Given that there is no instrument such lar to plan out the last great African as that, there is a lag between expec- settlement areas which are most often At the regional level: tations on the ground and the capacity cross-border areas. the African REC are at the centre of to support the initiatives envisaged. the African integration and unity pro- - As for security, border zones are ject. Their role in the promotion of $V IRU WKH FRQWLQHQWDO OHYHO ZKDW QRW SODFHV ZKHUH FRQÀLFWV EHJLQ EXW cross-border cooperation is thus cru- LV WKH VWUDWHJLF DQG SROLWLFDO GLPHQ- where their consequences materialize cial. VLRQ RI WKH $IULFDQ 8QLRQ DQG LWV UHIXJHHFDPSVWUDI¿FNLQJHWF (&2:$6 DV DQ H[DPSOH ¿UVW WRRN &RPPLVVLRQ" the initiative to suggest to its mem- - With regard to agriculture, livestock ber States to set up a Cross-border Normand Lauzon: The meeting of and food security, the recent crisis ,QLWLDWLYHV 3URJUDPPH &,3 DLPLQJ experts in Bamako and the process in Niger brought to the forefront the

CROSS-BORDER DIARIES JUNE 2007 27 EUROPE - AFRICA impact of cross-border trade on the N.L./DUJHIXQGV¿QDQFLQJUHJLRQDO PXFKWLPHDQGHIIRUW7KLV¿QDQFLQJ living conditions of the most vulne- cooperation are not currently set up to operation however was unable to rable Sahelian populations; the West ¿QDQFH D ODUJH QXPEHU RI VPDOO LQL- ZRUNLQ³6pQpJDPELH0HULGLRQDOH African cotton basins on which a large WLDWLYHVUDWKHUWKH\¿QDQFHODUJHSUR- part of the future of regional agricul- jects, notably infrastructure. ,WLVGLI¿FXOWWRVSOLWXSWKHFRQVWUXF- ture depends are all located in cross- 1DWLRQDOELODWHUDOIXQGVDUHE\GH¿QL- WLRQ RI WKH VDPH UXUDO URXWH RU D ERUGHU DUHDV RI :HVW $IULFDQ WLRQXVHGWR¿QDQFHDFWLYLWLHVLQRQO\ FURVVERUGHU SURJUDPPH FRPEDWLQJ livestock is thus concentrated in the one country. LQVHFXULW\ VR ZKDW DUH WKH VROX- cross-border area between the coun- One of the solutions has been to have WLRQV" tries north of the Gulf of Benin and ³WZLQQLQJSURMHFWV´RQERWKVLGHVRID the south of Sahelian countries. border and to try to fund them at the N.L.: The protagonists (regional same time by using national funds institutions, donors, locally-elected :LWK UHJDUG WR WKH PRELOLVDWLRQ RI from one country and national funds RI¿FLDOVDQGORFDODFWRUV1*2VDQG ¿QDQFLDOUHVRXUFHVIRUFURVVERUGHU from the other country. DVVRFLDWLRQV VKRXOG DJUHH XSRQ WKH FRRSHUDWLRQZKDWDUHWKHREVWDFOHV" This experience has been successful need for cross-border cooperation to in Mali-Burkina although it requires be a priority in regional programmes.

LOCAL ACTORS’ EUROPE ,QLWLDWHGE\WKHHOHFWHGRI¿FLDOVDQGDXWKRULWLHVRIERUGHUUHJLRQVFURVVERUGHUFRRSHUDWLRQEHJDQLQWKHV,Q WKHFUHDWLRQRIWKH$VVRFLDWLRQRI(XURSHDQ%RUGHU5HJLRQV $(%5 HQDEOHGFORVHUHODWLRQVZLWK(XURSHDQLQVWLWXWLRQV DQGQDWLRQDOJRYHUQPHQWVWREHVROLGL¿HG ,QWKHVWKHDFFHVVLRQRI6SDLQ3RUWXJDODQG*UHHFHWRWKH(8WKHQWKHFUHDWLRQRIDFRPPRQPDUNHWXQGHUVFRUHG WKHSHUVLVWHQFHRIWHUULWRULDOGLYLGHV7KH³,17(55(*´SURJUDPPHRIIHULQJERUGHUUHJLRQVDLGRQWKHEDVLVRI³FURVV ERUGHUGHYHORSPHQWVWUDWHJLHVRUSODQV´EHFDPHDPDMRUFRPPXQLW\SURJUDPPH LWVEXGJHWIRUZDVFORVH WRELOOLRQ(XURV Three important factors contribute to the regions becoming actors completely aside from their own development and subjects of European construction: 1. 7KHLQFUHDVHRIWKHFRPPXQLW\EXGJHW,QRIWKHELOOLRQ(XURVVSHQWE\WKH(8WKHDPRXQWVDOORFDWHGWRWKH &RPPRQ$JULFXOWXUDO3ROLF\DQGHTXDOLVDWLRQDLPLQJWRUHGXFHLQWHUUHJLRQDOLPEDODQFHVZLWKLQDOORI(XURSHUHDFKHG UHVSHFWLYHO\DQG 2. $VIURPWKHVWKHDFFHVVLRQRISRRUHUFRXQWULHVWRWKH&RPPXQLW\ OLNH*UHHFH6SDLQDQG3RUWXJDO DVVLVWHGLQ the evolution of the redistribution towards solidarity between Europeans. 3.7KHLPSOHPHQWDWLRQRIGHFHQWUDOLVDWLRQSROLFLHVLQWKHVLQ)UDQFH6SDLQDQGWKH8.,QIUD6WDWHWHUULWRULDO FRPPXQLWLHVZLOOEHLQDSRVLWLRQWRGH¿QHWKHFRQGLWLRQVRIWKHLUHYROXWLRQWKHPVHOYHVZKLOHDGGUHVVLQJQRWRQO\WKHLU countries’ central authorities, but also community institutions, indeed to other European regions. •

28 CROSS-BORDER DIARIES JUNE 2007 $VIRUWKHGRQRUV"

N.L. : Two elements of the current context should be taken into account: for the most part, funds provided by GRQRUV VWRS DW WKH ERUGHUV DQG LL regional funds are routinely used for ¿QDQFLQJ SXEOLF JRRGV ULYHUV IRU H[DPSOH Work should be carried out at the political level for the ideas and approaches of these regional funds to evolve. The European experience illustrates WKDW VSHFL¿F UHJLRQDO IXQGV KDYLQJ Normand Lauzon operating methods and particular tools %RUGHU FRRSHUDWLRQ LV DQ ³LQWHJUDWRU ,W LV GLI¿FXOW WR ¿QG ¿QDQFLQJ IRU D must be created. States should agree XPEUHOOD´XQGHUZKLFKLQFOXGHVJRDOV hundred small local cross-border ini- WRFR¿QDQFLQJ for trade development, cultural secu- tiatives. The technical feasibility of such funds rity, migration, etc. should be envisaged as quickly as These initiatives should be grouped possible and discussed with the major While there are many aspects of which together by cross-border area within donors. Strategic thinking on regional some are already taken into account in a cross-border development pro- funds should also include the States, regional programmes (development gramme as is the case in the pilot ope- RECs, and representatives of local corridor, settlement basins just to rations which we are supporting with African communities and even NGO QDPHDIHZ QRZWKHDLPLVWRKLJKOL- ECOWAS in West Africa. who work in border zones and face ght local cross-border cooperation ini- Operators, local communities or QDWLRQDO¿QDQFLQJFRQVWUDLQWV WLDWLYHVFRQ¿UPLQJLWVYDOXHDGGHGWR NGOs, supported by the States the regional integration process. concerned, must provide leadership Finally, we would like to emphasise and contribute to these programmes pilot projects between European and 6LJQL¿FDQWHIIRUWPXVWEHPDGHZLWK DVZHOODVVHHN¿QDQFLQJ African regions. The idea of imple- regard to communications, the dis- menting direct support projects brin- semination of information on border Regional Economic Communities ging together a European border realities and cross-border initiatives VKRXOGKDYHWKHKXPDQDQG¿QDQFLDO region and an African border region with the ultimate aim of raising awa- capacities to encourage such dyna- needs to be explored through a few reness among political leaders. mics under the urging of their member pilot experiences which could be sup- States. ported by European donors.•

CROSS-BORDER DIARIES JUNE 2007 29 EUROPE - AFRICA

Interview carried out by Marie Tremolières

«BORDERS ARE “HISTORICAL SCARS.” WE CANNOT FORGET THEM, BUT WE ALSO CANNOT NURTURE THEM» JENS GABBE,HONORARY MEMBER OF THE AEBR, 2007 IN BAMAKO (MALI)

,VWKHLVVXHRIERUGHUVDQGFURVVERU- African states that I have listened • The political will of all African sta- GHU FRRSHUDWLRQ LQ$IULFD VLPLODU WR to also made clear, that the goals of tes, (XURSH" integration and co-operation in Africa ,Q$IULFDDQG(XURSHERUGHUVDUH³KLV- require a new strategy (Ambassador • The awareness that socio-cultural WRULFDOVFDUV´:HFDQQRWIRUJHWWKHP 'LDUUDK co-operation is as important as econo- but we also cannot nurture them. $V VWUHVVHG E\ 3URI$VLZDMX LQ WKLV mic co-operation, The mentality or how we think about context the issue arises, if problems borders needs to be changed. At the can not be solved through wars (which • The involvement of all politicians, same time we must be aware that the has been the case to date in Africa and NGOs etc. on both sides of the bor- aim is not to abolish borders but for (XURSH DQHZGLPHQVLRQRISHDFHIXO der in order to mobilise the available their function to be simply administra- co-operation, also across borders, can knowledge on both sides of the bor- tive, similar to borders between pro- be created, which consequently would der, vinces within a country. help solve border problems. And like in Europe, periphe- • A bottom-up approach, i.e. the ral – border regions are usually AN IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTION regional / local level must have the TO SOLVING BORDER PROBLEMS neglected and border popula- opportunity for successful cross- COULD BE THE CREATION tions’ potential is not capitalised border cooperation in partnership OF JOINT BORDER FACILITIES on, neither in socio-cultural nor with the States; economic terms. Cross-border cooperation aims at sol- • Last but not least, the creation of ving those problems of border popula- :KDW VKRXOG EH WKH UROH RI UHJLR- permanent structures for successful tions including those of minorities. QDOLQVWLWXWLRQVLQWKLVFRQWH[WZKDW cross-border co-operation. VKRXOGEHWKHQH[WVWHSV" +RZ WR \RX VHH WKH DGYDQFHPHQWV Since the 1960s, there have been Having said that, it is important to PDGH LQ :HVW $IULFD LQ WHUPV RI PDQ\ $IULFDQ 8QLRQ 'HFODUDWLRQV emphasise two points in order to avoid FURVVERUGHUFRRSHUDWLRQ" addressing the problems as well as the misunderstandings: First, I would like to congratulate solutions in Africa. on the progress made with regard to Now these contracts, agreements and • Cross-border structures are not a cross-border co-operation that quite treaties must be implemented in order new administrative level, but only an RIWHQ KDV EHHQ DFKLHYHG XQGHU GLI¿- WR EHQH¿W FURVVERUGHU FRRSHUDWLRQ instrument for co-operation, cult conditions. But the several contri- This requires: butions from speakers from different

30 CROSS-BORDER DIARIES JUNE 2007 • Cross-border co-operation does not 'R \RX KDYH DQ\ H[DPSOHV RI VXFK • Local actors are familiar with obsta- draw on sovereign rights of the State FURVVERUGHUVWUXFWXUHVRQWKHORFDO cles and problems as well as with the but its aim is to carry out the necessary RQWKHSUDFWLFDOOHYHO" economic, social and geographical tasks in support of the populations on Yes. For example an important contri- conditions, both sides of the border. bution to solving border problems This understanding of cross-border could be the creation of joint border • They have the greatest interest in its co-operation is of great help while facilities. success as it concerns their daily life, overcoming legal barriers and preju- In the future, new border clearance faci- dices in Africa. lities should always be built together, • They recognise not only the pro- As regards the creation of a cross- LQ SDUWLFXODU ZKHQ (8 ¿QDQFLQJ LV blems, but can also propose solu- border coo- involved. tions, NOW THESE CONTRACTS, peration legal The advan- AGREEMENTS AND TREATIES MUST BE foundation, IMPLEMENTED IN ORDER TO BENEFIT tage would • They are more interested in co-ope- the AEBR CROSS-BORDER CO-OPERATION also be ration based on partnership than in the offers the lower costs FODUL¿FDWLRQRIWKHFRPSHWHQFHLVVXH exchange of documents, e.g. the bac- for the buildings and their equipment. kground study of AEBR developed Moreover, due to combined staff, &DQ \RX H[SODLQ LQ PRUH GHWDLO WKH IRU WKH (8 ZKLFK XOWLPDWHO\ OHG WR more human resources are available; UROHRISDUWQHUVKLSV" the creation of the EGTC (European controls can be more effective; at best With regard to partnership, if regio- *URXSLQJIRU7HUULWRULDO&RRSHUDWLRQ with joint patrols. nal/local actors play the leading role, as well as recommendations based on Veterinary problems can be solved they have to cultivate both, external the Madrid Outline Convention (that more easily, as well as visa problems and internal partnerships. creates a legal framework but does not etc. External partnership refers to the HQVXUHGLUHFWDSSOLFDELOLW\ DQGFRSLHV Old custom houses could be shared by relationship with state levels, govern- of the Agreements of Anholt (Dutch- personnel of both sides of the border ments etc. on both sides of the border. *HUPDQ DQG .DUOVUXKH )UDQFH so that one side of the building would This is essential for strategic, political *HUPDQ\/X[HPERXUJ6ZLW]HUODQG process those entering the country DQG¿QDQFLDOUHDVRQV Also in Africa country’s sovereignty while the other side would process The internal partnership refers to the stops at the border. That means: sove- those exiting. mobilisation of all partners that could reign rights of two States meet at the Indeed, as the examples from Western contribute to cross-border co-opera- border, but no State has the sole power Africa presented by the OECD illus- tion (capitalisation on existing availa- to act across this border. trated, the regional / local level is ble knowledge for cross-border co- Therefore, cross-border structures are most appropriate for co-operation. RSHUDWLRQ needed, ideally at the regional / local The reasons can be summarised as level acting as drivers of co-opera- follows: tion.

CROSS-BORDER DIARIES JUNE 2007 31 EUROPE - AFRICA

Moreover, while establishing cross- ders to forms of practical social, cultu- 3URJUDPPHV LQFOXGH MRLQW DFWLYL- border structures, vertical and hori- ral and economic co-operation. ties and priorities in accordance with zontal partnerships are created. regional needs, In order to achieve these goals politi- The vertical partnership is created cal will must be kept top of mind. We • Joint Monitoring and Steering on both sides of the border Committee, between the local/regional/ CROSS-BORDER CO-OPERATION national and possibly also DOES NOT DRAW ON SOVEREIGN RIGHTS OF THE • Joint bank account for African levels. The institu- STATE BUT ITS AIM IS TO CARRY OUT THE NECESSARY (8IXQGV WKDW FDQ QR TASKS IN SUPPORT OF THE POPULATIONS tions involved on both sides longer be divided natio- ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BORDER of the border have very dif- nally, ferent competencies and structures at their disposal. must continuously remind our poli- &R¿QDQFLQJDWWKHQDWLRQDOOHYHO ticians of the documents they signed Through the horizontal partnership in and the promises they made. -RLQW GH¿QLWLRQ RI D FURVVERUGHU a cross-border structure, these vertical With our prodding, they must be project, partnerships are integrated to form a responsible for what they have reco- network and are linked despite these gnised as politically important. 'H¿QLWLRQRIMRLQWHOLJLELOLW\ highly different competences and structures. A politician will always only take +RZFDQ$IULFDEHQH¿WIURPWKHYDVW action when he receives political pres- (XURSHDQH[SHULHQFHLQFURVVERUGHU 7KLVVRXQGVOLNHDFRPSOH[DQGGLI¿- sure from the ground. FRRSHUDWLRQSURJUDPPHV" FXOWSURFHVV :KDWZDVWKHUROHSOD\HGE\WKH(8 %DVHG RQ WKH H[SHULHQFHV ZLWK (8 These remarks make obvious that SURJUDPPHVLQ(XURSHDQFURVVERU- programmes in Europe, Africa can nothing is easy in cross-border co- GHUFRRSHUDWLRQ" OHDUQKRZDYDLODEOH(8IXQGVFDQEH operation. used more effectively for cross-border Very often in Africa and Europe scep- (8FURVVERUGHUFRRSHUDWLRQSURJUDP- co-operation on this continent. tics complain that cross-border co- mes in Europe since 1990 which were RSHUDWLRQ LV GLI¿FXOW UHTXLUHV PXFK an important accelerator of cross-bor- )RUH[DPSOHLQWKH(8DSDUWRIWKH time and money. der co-operation. Essential elements UHJLRQDO IXQGV DQG WKH 3+$5(SUR- If these sceptics were heeded, nothing RIFXUUHQW(8SURJUDPPHVDUH gramme were allocated to cross-bor- would ever happen at the border. • A joint programme per border (in der co-operation for a seven-year VRPHFDVHVZLWKVXESURJUDPPHV period. You should never give up your ambi- For that purpose, operational program- tious goals, from the marking of bor- mes along a border were developed

32 CROSS-BORDER DIARIES JUNE 2007 that had only one goal: cross-border :LOOWKH(8SURPRWHVXFKSURJUDP- funds at a border that have initially co-operation. Initially, however, this PHVLQ$IULFD" been allocated at the national level. ZDV QRW WKH SULRULW\ RI (8 PHPEHU If you read the Director General’s let- Finally, it is important for some of States or neighbouring states. ter written after a long meeting with WKH (8PRQH\ DYDLODEOH IRU $IULFD The fact that a part of the regional Ambassador Diarrah, Mr Lauzon and be allocated for the sole purpose of IXQGV DQG WKH 3+$5(SURJUDPPH Mr Bossard in the autumn of 2006, cross-border co-operation. were allocated to cross-border co- you will see that he more or less But here again the problem: it is not operation goes back in particular to explicitly promises some support. in the interest of African national WKH (XURSHDQ 3DUOLDPHQW SROLWLFDO However, activities in Africa itself governments.• ZLOO are essential in order to bring together

CROSS-BORDER DIARIES JUNE 2007 33 NIGER - NIGERIA THE NIGERIA-NIGER JOINT COMMISSION FOR COOPERATION By Michel Bolouvi

A PRECURSOR TO CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION

+RZFDQDFRPPXQLW\EHEXLOWEHWZHHQSHRSOHLQWULQVLFDOO\OLQNHGE\KLVWRU\DQGJHRJUDSK\EXW VHSDUDWHGE\DQDUWL¿FLDOERUGHU" 1LJHU DQG 1LJHULD SURYLGH DQ H[DPSOH ZLWK WKH FUHDWLRQ LQ RI WKH -RLQW 1LJHU1LJHULDQ &RRSHUDWLYH&RPPLVVLRQWKHRQO\LQVWLWXWLRQRILWVW\SHRQWKH$IULFDQFRQWLQHQW $IWHUWKLUW\VL[\HDUVWKHUHKDVEHHQMRLQWZLOOLQJQHVVWKDWJRHVEH\RQGWKHQDWLRQDOIUDPHZRUNRI LWVNPORQJERUGHU

he Nigeria-Niger The Niger-Nigerian Joint Cooperation and administrative changes, these Joint Commission for Commission supports these two coun- populations have remained the same, TCooperation, with its hea- tries in harmonization over colonial speaking the same languages, sharing dquarters located on Boulevard des balkanization. the same culture, and practicing the Ambassades in Niamey, is today an same religion. international organisation with diplo- Through the past, history and geo- 7KHFRPPXQLW\KDVÀRXWHGWKHFKDQ- matic status. graphy have moulded the present of ges and border limits. these two countries and smartly fore- It is known for the coordination, saw that they were also committing to With regard to secular links, the promotion and facilitation of trade their future. Commission’s administration between the two countries and is an PRGHVWO\ UHFRJQLVHV ³RYHU WKHVH example of cross-border cooperation A large part of their territory, and thus thirty six years we have worked to going beyond the traditional bilateral their population, were part of all the expand and strengthen cooperation agreements because it was based on successive empires in West Africa, between the two countries in all areas an intrinsically linked community. in particular the Malian, Songhay, RIKXPDQDFWLYLW\´ Kanem Bornou Empires, the Haussa Its creation enabled populations of States, etc. In fact, the Commission’s work goes both countries to live in the border One would say, history is past. beyond the framework of simple eco- DUHDSD\LQJQRKHHGWRRI¿FLDOERUGHUV nomic relations. WRSUHVHUYHWKHLUVSHFL¿FFRQQHFWLRQ (YHQWRGD\LWLVGLI¿FXOWWRVHSDUDWH connections that are surely linked the communities living along the Its integrity is to remain concrete in with other communities on the conti- 1500 km border, to disassociate the the promotion of joint development nent and in the West African region. communities of Niger of the Dosso, of the two countries, by implementing The communities of the Sikasso- Tahoua, Maradi, Zinder and Diffa ORFDO SURMHFWV ¿QDQFLQJ VWUDWHJLHV Korhogo-Bobo Dioulasso zone or Departments from their neighbouring and by motivating political decisions even those sharing the Senegambia Nigerian States of Kebbi, Sokoto, in order to facilitate their implemen- Meridionale space are perfect exam- Zamfara, Katsina, Jigawa, Yobé and tation. ples. Bornou. Defying time and political

34 CROSS-BORDER DIARIES JUNE 2007 The Commission’s achievements are protection, energy, industry, health, closely linked to its mission of deve- aquatic resources, combating cultural loping bilateral and cross-border trade enemies, security and border manage- in the vital sectors. ment are all examples.• Transportation, communications, trade, environment management and

SOME OF THE COMMISSION’S ACHIEVEMENTS FLQJ LQ WRWDO DPRXQW &)$ )UDQFV including a neighbouring Maradi-Katsina telephone link

• 3URYLGLQJ HOHFWULFLW\ WR WKH 5HSXEOLF RI 1LJHU E\ RI FLUFXLWV DQ LQWHUQDWLRQDO 1LDPH\ 1LJHU .DGXQD the Federal Republic of Nigeria: In January 1972, the DQG/DJRV 1LJHULD OLQNRIFLUFXLWVRIZKLFKRQHZDV (OHFWULFLW\ 3URYLVLRQ$JUHHPHQW ZDV VLJQHG ZLWK UHJDUG IRU WKH WHOH[ ¿QDOO\ OLQNLQJ WKH WHOHYLVXDO +HUW] EDQG WR WKH .DLQML 1LJHULD GDP XQGHU WKH DXVSLFHV RI WKH between Maradi and the Katsina transmitting station. Convention leading to the creation of joint Commission and regularly renewed between NIGELEC (société nigé- • Management of Aquatic Resources: The Commission ULHQQH G¶pOHFWULFLWp DQG 1(3$ 1DWLRQDO (OHFWULF 3RZHU REWDLQHG¿QDQFLQJIRUVWXGLHVDQGSURMHFWVQRWDEO\IRUWKH $XWKRULW\ &XUUHQWO\ RI WKH HQHUJ\ FRQVXPHG LQ Niger River and 4 large joint basins in Niger and Nigeria, Niger is from Nigeria. namely Maggia-Lamido, Goulbi of the Maradi-Gada River, Tagwai-El Fadama and Komadougou-Yobé.

• Development of connecting roads3DYLQJPDLQLQWHUQD- 7KHVWXGLHVZHUH¿QDQFHGLQWKHVIRUD³GHYHORSPHQW tional roads between the two countries by Nigeria except VWUDWHJ\´ZLWKDYLHZWRWKHGHYHORSPHQWUDWLRQDOHRIWKH WKH .RQJRODP7DNLpWD VHFWLRQ ¿QDQFHG E\ ,QWHUQDWLRQDO IRXUEDVLQVZLWK86'IURPWKH8QLWHG1DWLRQV &RRSHUDWLRQ UHJLRQDO $&3&(( FRRSHUDWLRQ IXQGV ± 'HYHORSPHQW 3URJUDP 81'3 86' IRUP WKH (XURSHDQ'HYHORSPHQW)XQG European Development Fund; 30 million CFA Francs from The Departments of Niger, Nigeria borders and States are each of the two governments. thus all linked by at least one paved road. The road between the Diffa Department in Niger and the • -RLQW5XUDO3URJUDPPHV: In the rural development sector, Nigerian States of Yobé and Borno is the last one to be the joint programme of the physical, biological and inte- paved. Furthermore, thanks to decentralized cooperation, grated combat of hyacinth water in collaboration with the secondary dirt roads link villages and above all border Niger River Authority; in 1990, the integrated programme markets. WR FRPEDW GHVHUWL¿FDWLRQ DORQJ WKH ERUGHU FRPEDWWLQJ crop infestations during seasonal growth periods.

• 3URPRWLRQ RI WKH WHOHFRPPXQLFDWLRQV QHWZRUN: 1HLJKERXUO\ OLQNLQJ RI .RQQL 1LJHU 6RNRWR 1LJHULD • Livestock breeding: In this sector which is the princi- LQ WKH V ZLWK (&2:$6¿QDQFLQJ +HUW]LDQ OLQN RI pal source of the northern Nigeria and Niger populations’ 0DUDGL 1LJHU .DWVLQD 1LJHULD RQERWKFRXQWULHV¶¿QDQ- income, the Commission created a control framework for

CROSS-BORDER DIARIES JUNE 2007 35 NIGER - NIGERIA livestock health at the common border in order to combat tions favourable to the movement of persons and goods; epizootic. UHYLVLRQRIWKH%LODWHUDO7UDGH$JUHHPHQW %7$ DQGWKH It also established cattle control posts, markets and a cattle %LODWHUDO$LUVSDFH$JUHHPHQW %$$ LQ RUGHU WR XSGDWH path map of 1/1000.000 to facilitate implementation of trade liberalization between both countries. DQLPDOKHDOWKSURJUDPPHVDQGUHGXFHFRQÀLFWVEHWZHHQ livestock breeders and farmers. • Industry: Carrying out pre-feasibility and feasibility stu- GLHVDWWKHEHJLQQLQJRIWKHVZLWK81'3DQG81,'2 • Health: Setting up a rapid exchange of information sys- assistance, for an industrial millet and sorghum processing tem on the sanitary situation in both countries, principally unit to be set up in Zinder and Kano; village mills manu- to manage contagious diseases and epidemics at the regio- facturing unit to be set up in Maradi; glassworks to be set nal borders. up in Kano. There was also a preliminary study at the end of 1980 •Trade: In order to improve the long and age-old tradition of RQ WKH LURQ GHSRVLWV LQ 6D\ 1LJHU DQG WKH ,QYHVWPHQW commercial trade between both countries, the Commission 3URPRWLRQDQG3URWHFWLRQ$JUHHPHQW ,33$ WRJXDUDQWHH initiated the signature or revision of agreements: signature secure investments of Niger and Nigerian citizens of both of a Road Transport Agreement with the terms and condi- countries.•

BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE COMMISSION 1) Creation

he Nigeria-Niger Joint TCommission for Cooperation was created after two Summit meetings: in November 1970 in Nigeria and in March 1971 in Niger between WKH 3UHVLGHQWV 'LRUL +DPDQL RI WKH Republic of Niger and General Yakubu Gowon of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The two Heads of State stee- red their governments towards setting up a permanent legal framework responsible for implementing effective and monitored cooperation between the two countries. Ambassador Kabiru Garba, Secretary general.

36 CROSS-BORDER DIARIES JUNE 2007 The Convention creating the of a rational, harmonious and balan- 2) Objectives ³1LJHU1LJHULDQ -RLQW &RRSHUDWLRQ ced cooperation capable of ensuring &RPPLVVLRQ´ZDVVLJQHGRQ0DUFK maximum development of the two he statutes of the Commission 1971 in Niamey where its headquarters countries at the least possible cost and Tsigned on the 22nd of December ZHUHRI¿FLDOO\VHWXSRQ'HFHPEHU with a minimum of delay. LQ1LDPH\GH¿QHWKHREMHFWLYHV 1973. Its goal and role are set out in 7KH-RLQW&RPPLVVLRQ¶VRI¿FLDOKHD- of the Commission and the role the Articles 2 and 3 of its Convention: dquarters is located on the Boulevard 3HUPDQHQW VHFUHWDULDW LV H[SHFWHG WR Art. 2: The Commission has the gene- des Ambassades in Niamey. The com- play in achieving those objectives. ral and exclusive jurisdiction for iden- plex which was built in 1982 on 1.3 tifying ways and means of coordina- hectares for approximately 600 mil- In article 4 of these statutes, it is stipu- ting and harmonizing the economies OLRQ&)$IUDQFVZDV¿QDQFHGHTXDOO\ lated that the Commission is charged RIWKHWZRFRXQWULHVLQDOO¿HOGVZLWKD by both governments. It is composed with the following responsibilities: view to achieving increased and more RI D WZRÀRRU DGPLQLVWUDWLYH EXLO- effective cooperation between them. ding and 6 lodging accommodations a) Formulation of policies which will Art. 3: The Commission will parti- for staff. The opening budget of facilitate full application of the princi- cularly be responsible for proposing the Secretariat of the Nigeria-Niger ples set out in the Convention; to the two Governments, measures Joint Commission for Cooperation is and projects to be undertaken which approved by the Council of Ministers will result in a gradual establishment annually and it is borne equally by the two countries.

CROSS-BORDER DIARIES JUNE 2007 37 NIGER - NIGERIA b) Collection, evaluation and dissemi- h) Examination of complaints and which had existed between them for nation of information on proposals promotion of settlement of disputes generations. made by member states; referred to it through conciliation or c) 3URPRWLRQ DQG FRRUGLQDWLRQ RI mediation; 3) Bodies joint research, projects and program- i) Taking all necessary preventive mes aimed at the development of the measures aimed at upholding the n the 22nd of December 1973, resources of the two contracting par- principles adopted in the Convention Othe Governments of Nigeria ties; pending the settlement of any diffe- DQG 1LJHU VLJQHG D 3URWRFRO DPHQ d) Liaison with the contracting par- rences; ding the 1971 Convention, thereby ties on joint efforts and to follow j) Ensuring implementation of the instituting the following three main the progress of the execution of sur- provisions of the present Convention organs to direct the affairs of the Joint veys and works as envisaged in the and statutes. Commission:. Convention; 1) The High Authority: supreme body e) Keeping contracting parties fully The aims and objectives of the of the Commission is composed of informed of its activities through sys- Commission are in conformity with the two Heads of State of the mem- tematic reports which each contrac- the principles stated in the Charter of ber countries. It is expected to meet at ting party may submit to it; ERWKWKH8QLWHG1DWLRQV2UJDQLVDWLRQ least once a year. f) Drawing up common rules regar- DQGWKH2UJDQLVDWLRQRI$IULFDQ8QLW\ 2) The Council of Ministers: is res- ding matters within its component; It is, furthermore, worthwhile empha- ponsible to the High Authority, meets g) Drawing up of staff rules and regu- sizing that the commission is neither at least once a year and it is made up of lations and ensure their application; in competition nor at variance with equal number of representatives of the the aims and objectives of other sub- two Governments of analogous status. regional and The Chairmanship of the Council of intergovern- ministers is assumed by the Country mental organi- that hosted the last meeting. sations in West 3)7KH3HUPDQHQW6HFUHWDU\UHVSRQ Africa. This sible for the daily functioning of the Commission Commission and carrying out the was, there- decisions of High-level authorities and fore, created the Council of Ministers. The General by Nigeria Secretary is nominated jointly by both and Niger to States through suggestions by the enable the Government of the Federal Republic two States of Nigeria and the Government of formalise the the Republic of Niger. Both share the cooperation, level of Administrative Ambassador. Ambassador Sandy Yacouba, Deputy Secretary general. •

38 CROSS-BORDER DIARIES JUNE 2007 Source : PDM Septembre 2005

CROSS-BORDER DIARIES JUNE 2007 39 BURKINA-CÔTE D’IVOIRE-MALI

CROSS-BORDER NETWORK OF COMMUNITY RADIOS By Michel Bolouvi

KURUMBA, 1 YEAR ALREADY: ALMOST FULLY OPERATIONAL

$IWHUD\HDUWKDWLQFOXGHGEURDGFDVWHGSURJUDPPHVFRSURGXFWLRQDQGEURDGGLVVHPLQDWLRQLQ ERUGHU]RQHVWKH.XUXPEDQHWZRUNLV¿QDOO\JRLQJWREH¿QDQFLDOO\DQGPDQDJHULDOO\DXWRQR- PRXV

ithout pomp and circumstance, the W³.XUXPED´ QHWZRUN of community radio stations in the S.K.Bo zone (Sikasso-Korhogo- %RER FHOHEUDWHGLWV¿UVWDQQLYHUVDU\ on 13 April 2007. Instead of throwing a party for which they could not afford food and beverages, the Kurumba network chose to hold its second General Assembly on 3 and 4 April 2007 at the Hotel Maïssa in Sikasso where the Cross-border Initiatives 3URJUDPPH &,3 ZDVODXQFKHG The Kurumba network is made up In this current phase, still anticipating

7KH¿UVW\HDUZDVDODQGPDUNGHYRWHG of community radio stations of Mali participation of the Ivorian counter- to the pilot phase; the second year will =pJRXD .DGLROR DQG 6LNDVVR DQG parts, the Kurumba network takes be that of becoming fully operational. %XUNLQD)DVR %DQIRUD advantage of the international colla- In addition to the historic landmark boration between radio station journa- IRU (&2:$6 DQG WKH ³FURVVERU- It is also awaiting a change in the lists of Mali and Burkina Faso. GHU FRQFHSW RU ORFDO LQWHJUDWLRQ´ political situation in Côte d’Ivoire Memorandum adopted in 2005, the .RUKRJR WRHQDEOHWKHLQWHJUDWLRQRI Each radio station nominated one .XUXPEDQHWZRUN¶V¿UVW\HDUVDZWKH these counterparts into the process. journalist to be part of a writing concretization of the promotion of team which will produce a joint pro- cross-border cooperation local initia- The network relies on radio stations’ gramme: the Malian community radio tives. existing professional expertise, even VWDWLRQV ³/D 9RL[ GX .pQpGRXJRX´ It proved that with consistent, not though the implementation process RI6LNDVVR³/D9RL[GX)RORQD´DQG necessarily ostentatious, support LQFOXGHV VSHFL¿F WUDLQLQJ WR LPSURYH ³5DGLR

40 CROSS-BORDER DIARIES JUNE 2007 The Kurumba network has three in French [eskabo] setting out its 5- The training session (Banfora, July advantages: cross-border geographic, historic, IRUXVLQJQHZO\DFTXLUHGQXPH- First, addressing topics within the cultural and economic area. ric production equipment; border area of at least two countries 6- 7KH 3& RU VHFRQG SURGXFWLRQ and providing various perspectives; The Kurumba network thus writes, session, with the drafting meeting in Increasing its listening audience by produces and disseminates 30 minute -XO\LQ%DQIRUD %XUNLQD)DVR broadcasting over the borders, in com- programmes using numeric equip- and production in Kadiolo in August mon border areas of Mali, Burkina ment. It has completed six important 2006, of 3 new programmes. Faso and Côte d’Ivoire. steps: Although radio stations on the Ivorian This process covered the period from side of the S.K.Bo zone are not yet 1-7KHVHOHFWLRQZLWKLQWKH¿UVWTXDU- -DQXDU\ WR $XJXVW ¿QDQFHG involved in production due to the WHURIRI¿YHUDGLRVWDWLRQVDEOH H[FOXVLYHO\ E\ WKH 0'3 IROORZLQJ politico-military crisis situation, to make up the core and impetus of LWVLQYROYHPHQWDWWKH&,3ODXQFKLQJ the Ivorian border area is covered the network; workshop in Sikasso in September by network radio stations set up in 2- The organisation of the network 2005. =pJRXD DQG .DGLROR 0DOL DQG LQ as a veritable structure with the elec- %DQIRUD %XUNLQD)DVR DQG tion of its presenters (7 journalists of The network succeeded in amalgama- which one is coordinator and one edi- ting the expertise of journalists and 3URGXFLQJ SURJUDPPHV LQ RQH XQL- WRU LQ FKLHI WKH FKRLFH RI HGLWLQJ radio station professionals. YHUVDO ODQJXDJH VXFK DV ³%DPDQD´ centres (radio Yeelen of Kadiolo and one of the common languages of the UDGLR 0XQ\X RI %DQIRUD DQG GHFL- It is the result of team work of journa- three communities living in this area. ding on its way forward; lists from various radio stations set up This linguistic bond is only one of the 3-7KHVXSSRUWSURYLGHGE\WKH0'3 in different countries yet production symbols of the cross-border nature of by way of numeric recording and pro- is carried out together on the basis of WKH6.%R]RQHDWUXH³FURVVERUGHU duction equipment (recorders, battery FRQWHQW GH¿QHG DW D GUDIWLQJ FRQIHU- DUHD´ charger kits, computers, audio audience. As an anecdote, the name of the ting software, blank CDs, DVD/VCD The reports are combined into a pro- QHWZRUN ³.8580%$´ LV D WHUP SOD\HUVHWF gramme by the journalists in one in Bamana meaning a step stool with 4- The pilot production session, cal- of the two network studios and this three legs, inherent in the region. OHG³3&´RU¿UVWSURGXFWLRQFRPPLW- programme is then distributed and The tri-legged step stool symbolising WHH LQ 0D\ LQ .DGLROR 0DOL disseminated on the radio stations the three countries involved in the meeting of the production team for QHWZRUN IRUQRZ network: Burkina, Côte d’Ivoire and its drafting, reporting and studio pro- Dissemination on other radio stations Mali. duction conference, resulting in 3 CD in different countries will be explo- The network’s name also has the pho- supplied broadcast-ready program- red. QHWLFDVVRFLDWLRQRIWKHWHUP³6.%R´ mes;

CROSS-BORDER DIARIES JUNE 2007 41 BURKINA-CÔTE D’IVOIRE-MALI

tions essentially on the 7KXV WKH WZRIROG LVVXH RI ¿QDQFLDO ¿QDQFLQJE\WKH0'3LWV and managerial autonomy is brought VROHSDUWQHU´ forward and is the focus of the debates of the GA anniversary. )RU KLP ³WKLV FUHDWHV a real dependency pro- The context described by the coor- EOHP´ GLQDWRULVWKDW³WKHQHWZRUNLVDSUR- +HH[SODLQV³(YHQWKRXJK ject of local community radio station Almost fully operational at the Banfora workshop radio stations actors in the S.K.Bo zone. insisted on their intention that mem- The General Assembly held in the bers pay dues to supply the network 7KH\KDGWKHLGHDEXWQRWWKH¿QDQFLDO beginning of April 2007 was pleased ZLWK ¿QDQFLQJ WKH\ KDYH RQO\ EHHQ means. with the network’s promising results able to provide human resources, a But after one year of experience, the but did not want to be overly optimis- spot in their programming for broad- network must be able to create the tic. casting programmes and logistics for PHDQVWRUHDFKLWVJRDO´ reporting in their respective covered Reminding all the network actors of Most worrisome is the precariousness ]RQHV´ their responsibility, the coordinator RI¿QDQFLQJ:LWKRXWWKH0'3¶VVXS- VWUHVVHG³DOORIXVKDYHDQREOLJDWLRQ port, actors would totally unmotivated The problem, continued Mr. Dganoko, WRJHWSDVWWKLV¿QDQFLDOO\H[SHULPHQ- due to lack of network resources. LVWKDW³WKLVXQGHUPLQHVWKHQHWZRUN¶V WDO VWDJH VXSSRUWHG E\ WKH 0'3 DQG The network’s technical functioning ¿QDQFLDO VLWXDWLRQ DQG UHGXFHV WKH go towards autonomy in order to fully relies on the physical management autonomy managerially with regard assume our obligations and be more from afar of these journalists and to programming its activities. UHVSRQVLEOH´ radio station members. The network has been idle since the end of August 2006 due to lack of The General Assembly concluded that 3URGXFWLRQ PHHWLQJV H[DPLQH WKH ¿QDQFLQJ 7KLV *HQHUDO $VVHPEO\ the network should generate its own costs of distances to cover, journalists’ ZDVKHOGVROHO\ZLWKWKH0'3¶V¿QDQ- FDSLWDO³UHO\LQJRQWKHDGYDQWDJHWKDW room and board during the drafting FLDOVXSSRUW´ LQLWV¿UVW\HDUWKHQHWZRUNGHPRQV- meeting and studio production. trated it could operate professionally &RQ¿UPHG E\ FRRUGLQDWRU 'DRXGD DQGWKDW¶VDVWURQJEDVH´ Thus, the network coordinator, the Mariko, the dean of network radio Malian Soumaïla Dagnoko, indicated VWDWLRQ PHPEHU GLUHFWRUV VWDWHV ³LQ He reiterates that network coordina- WKDW ³WKH PDMRU GLI¿FXOW\ IDFLQJ WKH order to remedy this situation and for tion should lead to the implementation 6.%R QHWZRUN LV LWV ODFN RI ¿QDQ- its decisions to prevail, strategies gea- RIDVWUDWHJ\WRUDLVHPRQH\³WRGHYH- cial as well as managerial autonomy. UHGWRZDUGV¿QDQFLDODXWRQRP\PXVW lop broadcasting programmes that can Since its creation, the network func- EHLPSOHPHQWHG´ EH¿QDQFHG´•

42 CROSS-BORDER DIARIES JUNE 2007 Tou Ousmane Cyrille (technician, WHAT THEY SAID Zerbo Marie-Yvonne (jour- UDGLR 0XQ\X QDOLVW UDGLR 0XQ\X ³, KDYH ³7KDQNV WR learned a the network Mamoudou Ousseni Barry (technician, lot with the I have been UDGLR0XQ\X ³7KDQNVWRWKHQHWZRUN,KDYH network: to able to work been able to work with work quic- with numeric numeric equipment. kly while equipment. After training, I followed After training, I fol- maintaining the network’s consultant’s, coordina- lowed the network’s focus and quality. I have learned tor and journalists’ advice, who said consultant’s, coordi- to be rigorous in my work, to that you need to practice as much as nator and journalists’ UHVSHFWGHDGOLQHV´ possible to discover and have a better advice, who said that understanding of the equipment and you need to practice as much as possible software. I thank the network because to discover and have a better understanding LWKDVJLYHQPHDQDGYDQWDJH´ of the equipment and software. I thank the network because it has given me an advan- WDJH´ Jean-Baptiste Traoré MRXUQDOLVW UDGLR 0XQ\X Nabilaye Issa Ouattara MRXUQDOLVW UDGLR )RORQD ³7KH H[SH- rience of working ³, KDYH DSSUHFLDWHG WKH JURXS¶V VSL- with colleagues from other ULWDQGVDFUL¿FHWKHHDV\FRQWDFWZLWK radio stations has been very colleagues, using numeric equipment, enriching, an exchange of the rigour in the work. I have learned views which has enabled me to through the experience of other colleagues, the freedom ask questions while seeing how the others carry out to maintain our radio stations. The discovery of esta- the same work: sharing expertise, information, nice EOLVKPHQWVRWKHUWKDQP\UDGLRVWDWLRQ´ ambiance, acquiring new technical and software NQRZOHGJH´

Boubacar Cissé MRXUQDOLVWUDGLR.pQpGRXJRX ³([FKDQJLQJ

Youssouf Koné (journalist, radio experiences, supporting station heads, using 'DQD\D ³, FDPH WR computer tools… I appreciated the technical the network as a pre- qualities of the coordinator and in this sense, senter. Currently I we need more training sessions. The rigor, can say that I am on working until 3 in the morning. Before, I my way to being a journalist. I owe a used to say that 24 hours was more than enough to produce ORWWRWKHQHWZRUN´ a programme. I learned that you have to strive for excellence, DOZD\VJRLQJIXUWKHUWRVHHNTXDOLW\´

CROSS-BORDER DIARIES JUNE 2007 43 BURKINA-CÔTE D’IVOIRE-MALI

COLLABORATION BETWEEN S.K.BO ASSISTANCE AND THE KURUMBA NETWORK

While refer- • Carry out consultations from which ring to their new operational suggestions are likely general spe- to emerge; FL¿FDWLRQVDV • Develop a more ambitious cross- set out in the border and consultation process. $FWLRQ 3ODQ following the The facilitator, Saïdou Sanou, indica- launching of ted that a budgetary line is foreseen in Saïdou Sanou and Ladji Sogoba WKH&,3WKHIDFLOLWDWRUVLQGLFDWHGWKDW the Burkina Faso programme docu- he road to autonomy requires their mission was essentially to sup- ment in order to support community Tcollaboration between facilita- port and follow-up: radio stations. tors of the implementation process and • Follow-up and implement actions ,W VSHFL¿FDOO\ LQYROYHV SD\LQJ IRU PRQLWRULQJ&,3SURMHFWVLQWKH6.%R which will eventually be achieved; local resource personnel for targeted zone, according to the Burkinabé 6XSSRUW WKH ¿QDO GHYHORSPHQW RI expertise and over the short-term.• Saïdou Sanou and the Malian Ladji projects which have been drafted at Sogoba. the workshop;

SAÏDOU SANOU GH\´FRRSHUDWLYH FUHDWLRQRUJDQLVDWLRQDQGODXQFKLQJ “THE NETWORK MUST BE PERCEIVED DQGWKH³:RXRO´ RIWKHQHWZRUN¶VDFWLYLWLHVDQGIURP AS A CATALYST” Association ZKRP¿QDQFLQJLVFRPLQJWRDQHQG which was a $VDVXSSRUWWRFURVVERUGHUFRPPX- LQ6LNDVVR" concrete activity. I believe that where the network will QLFDWLRQVKRZFDQWKHQHWZRUNFROOD- Overall, the ERUDWHZLWKWKH81'3IDFLOLWDWRU" ¿QG LWVHOI LQYROYHG LQ WKH SURPRWLRQ network must be perceived as a cata- of cross-border cooperation activi- $VD&,3DFWLYLW\WKHQHWZRUNEHQH- lyst of dynamic cross-border coopera- ties, it would be best to support its full ¿WVIURP81'3VXSSRUW%XWLWPXVW tion. be seen in a broader sense that the development in order for it to truly be We need the network to provide infor- network can promote other activities able to play its role. mation and sometimes to produce This would be an improvement in VHWRXWLQWKH$FWLRQ3ODQ programmes in order to support acti- If we take the example of the Munyu ZKLFKWKH0'3KDVDOUHDG\LQYHVWHG vities. Association, supporting Radio Munyu, 7KH0'3¶VSULPDU\QLFKHLVKRZHYHU The network is essential in the cross- it is already involved in other types of the promotion of local communities. border cooperation dynamic. activities, notably combating the traf- ,WKLQNWKDWWKH0'3FDQFRQWULEXWHWR mobilising support for the network. ¿FNLQJRIFKLOGUHQ • - Radio Munyu covered the consulta- :KDWDUH\RXH[SHFWLQJIURPDSDU WQHUOLNHWKH0'3ZKRVXSSRUWHGWKH WLRQ PHHWLQJ EHWZHHQ WKH ³0DOL

In Mali and Kolokoni of Burkina Faso; the covering the Circle of Sikasso, part communities of Bengué, Diawala, of the west of Burkina

Locale 1: KADIOLO in the south of Sikasso, Ouangolodougou Faso, south of the cir- to the south-west of Bobo Dioulasso and to the and Tengrela in Côte cle of Kadiolo and the north of Korhogo. d’Ivoire. Responsible: south-west of Yorosso. Mr. Soumaïla Dagnoko / Director: Mr. Daouda Mariko. ³/D 9RL[ GX )RORQD´ %3

.DGLROR 5HS RI 0DOL 7HO Locale 2: ZÉGOUA, border town with Côte

2 66 01 42 / Email: radiofolona@ d’Ivoire, to the south of Sikasso, to the south-west In Burkina Faso yahoo.fr / Frequency FM 94.1 Mhz of Bobo Dioulasso and to the north of Korhogo.

/ Creation Date: 12 April 1994 with Locale 4: BANFORA to the south-west of Bobo the support of ACCT (currently AIF, ³5DGLR 'DQD\D´ %3 =pJRXD Dioulasso, to the south-east of Sikasso and to the

Agence internationale de la franco- 5HSRI0DOL 7HO north-east of Korhogo. SKRQLH 7UDQVPLWWHURI:DWWV / Frequency FM 105.5 Mhz / Creation / Coverage: 80km radius, covering the Date: 11 July 2001 / Transmitter: 1 ± ³5DGLR 1XQ\X´ ³/D9RL[GH OD communities of Baguéra, Loumana, of 300 Watts / Antenna ht.: 50 m. / IHPPH´ %3 %DQIRUD 5HS RI Ouéléni, Kolokoni in Burkina Faso. Coverage: 80 km radius, covering the %XUNLQD)DVR 7HO The radio station started an interna- communities of Niélé and Diawala in 08 / Email: [email protected] / tional listener club, Côte d’Ivoire; the sub- Frequency FM 95.2 Mhz / Creation WKH³FLUFOHRIIULHQGV´ prefectures of Loumana 'DWHDXWKRULVDWLRQ-XO\¿UVW a youth association of and Baguéra in Burkina EURDGFDVW-XQH8.2[IDPVXS- Mali, Burkina Faso Faso. / Delegated port and members’ dues. / Transmitter: and Côte d’Ivoire. / Director: Mr. Karim Dumbia. 1 of 2 Kilowatts and 1 back up of 500 Director: Mr. Zahana Diarra Watts / Antenna ht.: 300 m. / Coverage:

Locale 3: SIKASSO to the west of Bobo Dioulasso 150 km radius, covering the provin-

46 CROSS-BORDER DIARIES JUNE 2007 CROSS-BORDER DIARIES JUNE 2007 47 NIGER-MALI

TRANSHUMANCE AND CROSS-BORDER SECURITY Par Michel Bolouvi

LIVESTOCK BREEDERS FROM NIGER AND MALI EVALUATE THE SITUATION IN TILLABÉRI $VFDWWOHPRYHIUHHO\VHHNLQJSDVWXUHOLYHVWRFNEUHHGHUVSD\QR $SULOLQ*DR 0DOL DQGRQ DWWHQWLRQWRERUGHUV DQG$SULOLQ7LOODEpUL 1LJHU 7KH 7KLVZRUNVZKHQWKHUHLVHTXDOFRPSHQVDWLRQRQERWKVLGHVRI increase in the number of resolutions WKHERUGHUDQGZKHQWKHUHDUHQRFDWWOHWKHIWV'HVSLWHVRFDOOHG WHFKQLFDOPHHWLQJVEHWZHHQERUGHUDXWKRULWLHVRI1LJHUDQG0DOL however did not stop the violence. WKHYLROHQFHZDVLQFUHDVLQJ 7KH ERUGHU SRSXODWLRQV¶ FRQFHUQV OHG WR WKH RUJDQLVDWLRQ RI D Mother nature continues to ravage )RUXPKHOGIURPWR0DUFKLQ7LOODEpUL 1LJHUWRZQ RQWKHERUGHUZLWK0DOL WRH[DPLQHWKHVHFXULW\LVVXHOLQNHGWR the country and anger builds up in the FURVVERUGHUWUDQVKXPDQFH border areas: strong pressure on natural resources and the desire for ever

ontinuous cattle thefts, the 1990s until the fatal combination greater control and appropriation of retaliation, livestock bree- of armed rebellions and the problema- these resources; less pastoral space; Cder’s daily lives in the tic exit from years of drought. emergence of inter-community into- 1LJHU0DOLERUGHUDUHDPRUHVSHFL¿- lerance. cally in the regions of Tillabéri in the The only solution to climatic problems north of Niger and Gao in the south- is begging the heavens for mercy. The Livestock breeders leave it to civil HDVWRI0DOLDUHIUDXJKWZLWK¿VW¿JKWV solution to the problem of rebellions society organisations who contact the fostering a climate of insecurity like ZDVWKH3HDFH$JUHHPHQWVRI$SULO High Commission for the Restoration those of the days of armed rebellion. 1995. RI3HDFHDQG6WUHQJWKHQLQJ1DWLRQDO Everything went back to normal, 8QLW\ FUHDWHG RQ -DQXDU\ Mali and Niger share a border of except that the rebellion had created a within the framework of the peace approximately 900 km. The main new type of thug. process. activity of populations living on both :LWK81'3¿QDQFLQJWKH)RUXPRQ sides of this border is nomadic and In fact, the Tuareg rebellions in Niger ³FURVVERUGHULQVHFXULW\DQGSDVWRUD- transhumant pastoralism. In princi- and Mali fostered the proliferation of OLVP´ZDVKHOGLQ7LOODEpULIURPWR ple, this age-old common way of life weapons in the zone. 19 March 2007 for the key actors on should foster integration and cross- This is no longer a matter of a rebel- the Niger-Mali border to meet face- border harmony. lion along the border but insecurity to-face. connected to seeking easy income &HUWDLQO\WKHUHDUHFRQVWDQWFRQÀLFWV with the use of weapons: cattle and Chaired by Mohamed Anako, between livestock breeding commu- vehicle theft, often resulting in human The High Commissioner for the nities along a border, but they were deaths, and the circulation of illegal 5HVWRUDWLRQRI3HDFHWKH)RUXPDOVR manageable when they stayed within weapons. welcomed Albadé Abouba, Minister the traditional framework of sword Border authorities of both countries of the Interior and Decentralisation of DQGVWLFN¿JKWV7KLVZDVWKHFDVHXQWLO initiated technical meetings on 13 and Niger, Colonel Amadou Baba Touré,

48 CROSS-BORDER DIARIES JUNE 2007 Governor of the Gao region and RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE FORUM Ider Adamou, his counterpart of the

Tillabéri region, as well as the Security 1. Collect, harmonise and disseminate texts related to pastoralism &RXQVHOORU WR WKH 3UHVLGHQW RI WKH between the two countries and countries of the sub-region at all Republic of Niger, Deputies, public levels; administration frameworks, defence 2. Capitalise on existing experiences within the ECOWAS zone forces, security services, group heads, ZLWKUHJDUGWRFRQÀLFWPDQDJHPHQWDQGSUHYHQWLRQOLQNHGWRSDV- cantons and factions, livestock bree- toralism; der representatives and their socio- 3. 'HYHORS D FRQÀLFW SUHYHQWLRQ DQG PDQDJHPHQW SURJUDPPH professional organisations. harmonised action plans, evaluation implementation and monito- ULQJPHFKDQLVPVZKLFKZLOOEHVXEPLWWHGWRWHFKQLFDODQG¿QDQ- $VDI¿UPHGE\0D\DNL$EGHUDKDPDQH cial partners interested in this sector; governance expert (Good Governance 4. Set up a restricted committee of experts from both countries and Better Distribution of Sustainable responsible for developing said programme; *URZWK3URJUDPPH81'3 ³DSDQHO 5. Create a consultation framework on cross-border transhu- of people with whom the implementa- mance; tion of the conclusions can be achie- 6. Authorise joint inter-regional units to conduct police opera- ved and a joint vision for the develo- tions; pment of this region united by history 7. Set up a radio frequency network between border authorities; DQGJHRJUDSK\´LVQHHGHG• 8. Create a project strengthening peace in the zone with a view to the socio-economic re-insertion of the younger generation; 9. Organise periodic cross-border fairs and socio-cultural events; 10.6XSSRUW¿QDQFLDOO\WKHLPSOHPHQWDWLRQRIWKLV)RUXP¶VUHFRP- mendations; 11. Set up a joint monitoring committee of the Tillabéri Forum’s resolutions under the leadership of the High Commissioner for the 5HVWRUDWLRQRI3HDFHJRYHUQRUVRIERUGHUUHJLRQVUHSUHVHQWDWL- ves of ministers responsible for border issues, representatives of security and defence forces and representatives of civil society of both countries; 12. Hold periodic meetings between ministers responsible for livestock breeding; 13. Request governors of regions concerned for a budgetary allocation to address border issues; 14. Restrict and disarm systematically individuals and organised groups.

CROSS-BORDER DIARIES JUNE 2007 49 NIGER-MALI

MAYAKI ABDERAHAMANE, GOVERNANCE EXPERT,GOOD GOVERNANCE ANDBETTERDISTRIBUTIONOFSUSTAINABLE GROWTH PROGRAMME/UNDP (EACG/ PNUD)

«UN ÉLEVEUR NE FONCTIONNE PAS EN TERME DE PAYS MAIS DE TERRITOIRE D’ATTACHE»

7KLV&URVVERUGHU)RUXPIDOOVZLWKLQ between Mali and Niger held on 17 to both sides of the border. By knowing ZKLFKIUDPHZRUN" 19 March 2007 in Tillabéri. each other and coming to an agreement before State leaders of both 6LQFHWKH3HDFH$JUHHPHQWVDQG :KLFK RUJDQLVDWLRQV ZDQWHG WKLV countries, they believe that they have more precisely the Tahoua Roundtable )RUXP" a better chance of obtaining positive for the strengthening of peace, the results. 81'3VXSSRUWV1LJHU¶VHIIRUWVDVWKH Livestock breeders’ organisations in This Forum was particularly important government is focusing more on the Niger, in particular, contacted their as it brought Tuareg livestock bree- promotion of good governance. counterparts in Mali initiating the ders from Mali and Fulani livestock organisation of a meeting to discuss breeders from Niger face-to-face. +HQFH81'3VXSSRUWVDOORI1LJHU¶V security and transhumance issues on endeavours with regard to strengthe- the border between Niger and Mali. :K\DUHOLYHVWRFNEUHHGHUVEHLQJVLQ- ning peace. JOHGRXW" This includes the reinsertion of ex- On both sides of the border, there are combatants as well as supporting acti- cases of violence that sometimes result After years of rebellion and thus the vities in the promotion and culture of in human deaths and livestock theft to use of weapons and loss of human peace. the extent that populations started to lives, border authorities from Niger 81'3 WKXV DVVLVWV WKH +LJK believe that technical meetings among and Mali held several meetings with a Commission for the Restoration of authorities did not change very much view to strengthening peace. 3HDFH ZKRVH PLVVLRQ LV WR LQWHUYHQH in their daily lives. For border populations, problems in Niger. were resolved. But the clashes conti- At the request of the High Commission This Forum’s particularity is founded nued, notably between livestock bree- and more particularly that of civil in the need to hold such a meeting by ders on both sides. VRFLHW\RUJDQLVDWLRQV81'3VXSSRU- civil society organisations. They wan- 3RSXODWLRQVRQERWKVLGHVRIWKHERU- ted the cross-border Forum addres- ted to be involved since they are the GHU ZDQWHG WR ¿QG D VROXWLRQ WR WKH sing transhumance and security issues veritable actors in this insecurity on continued acts of violence linked to

50 CROSS-BORDER DIARIES JUNE 2007 transhumance but masking the actual MOHAMED ANAKO, crimes being committed. HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR THE RESTORATION OF PEACE :KDWLVWKHLUYHUVLRQRIWKHVLWXDWLRQ DVWKH\DUHDOVRWKHDFWRUV"

According to the border populations, poverty continues to be the overriding FUHDWHGE\WKHLUFRQÀLFWVDQGUHWDOLD- problem followed by the deterioration tions. of natural resources and the lack of grazing areas in the north of Tillabéri. :KDW ZDV H[SHFWHG IURP WKLV )RUXP" They also attested that livestock breeders do not function in terms of I would say they sought a positive country but in terms of zones which reaction and the effectiveness of the they frequent. authorities and development partners. «DEVELOPMENT Livestock breeders use these areas PARTNERS HAVE NOT periodically according to the availa- I still strongly believe that the legal SERIOUSLY SUPPORTED bility of the grazing area and the ani- texts on transhumance and criminal US» mal’s intuition in their roaming. activity in border areas of both coun- )XUWKHUPRUH WKH\ DI¿UPHG WKDW ERU- tries should be examined and adap- ,QWKHUHFHQWDVVHVVPHQWRIWKHIRO- der populations have dual nationality. ted. ORZXSWRWKHDSSOLFDWLRQRIWKH Thus, for them, they have always evol- This has resulted in the setting up of 3HDFH$JUHHPHQW\RXODPHQWHGWKH ved in one area and do not understand a joint committee of experts, another ODFNGHYHORSPHQWSDUWQHU¶VLQYROYH- the idea of two distinct territories. for following-up resolutions and a PHQW:KDWDUH\RXH[SHFWLQJH[DFWO\ To complicate matters, they also joint police mission. IURPGHYHORSPHQWSDUWQHUV" FRQ¿UPWKDWWUDQVKXPDQFHFRGHVGLI- This was an opportunity for authori- fer from one country to the other. WLHV WR PHQWLRQ WKH ODFN RI ¿QDQFLDO Actually, with regard to their commit- This Forum was also the opportu- resources, and by so doing begin dis- ment to the Tahoua Roundtable which QLW\WR¿QGDVROXWLRQWRWKHSUREOHPV cussions on this issue. immediately followed the signing of between livestock breeders who Now they expect development par- WKH 3HDFH$JUHHPHQWV , DI¿U- accuse each other of wrongdoing. tners to invest in the zone, in pasto- med my disappointment. 2QHVLJQL¿FDQWUHVXOWZDVDOLVWWKH\ ralism.• All development partners brought compiled of the veritable bandits who Interview conducted by Michel Bolouvi together at this meeting were asked to were taking advantage of the situation support the peace process.

CROSS-BORDER DIARIES JUNE 2007 51 NIGER-MALI

Declarations of intention set forth at when problems are expressed clearly. lous! You can’t give 300 $ to a head of the time did not materialise as we had I believe that the government is aware family who has waited 10 years, and envisioned them. WKHQVD\WRKLP³\RX Certainly, there DUH QRZ UHLQVHUWHG´ was what we call But, the ex-comba- ³XUJHQW PHDVX- tants decided not to UHV´E\WKH)UHQFK MHRSDUGL]H WKH 3HDFH Cooperation, also Agreements. E\3UR]RSDVZKLFK They picked up an failed in the pasto- active life. ral zone. Some are actually As for the genuine transporting these sustainable deve- immigrants, others lopment projects are working in so- concerning Aïr, FDOOHG ³WRXULVW DJHQ- Kawar, Azawak FLHV´HWF and Manga, in accordance with the of this and is working for the country’s 3HDFH$JUHHPHQWV,PXVWVD\WKDWZH genuine development. This why I say that development par- are disappointed. Is this in relation to tners have not seriously supported us. the measures undertaken by the World :LWKRXW EHLQJ WKH PDLQ VRXUFH RI At the Tahoua Roundtable, the issue Bank and the FMI at the time? Overall, UHYHQXH IRU H[FRPEDWDQWV RYHU was truly development of these zones, development partners have stayed on WKHVH ODVW \HDUV FDQ WKH GLI¿FXOWLHV sustainable development. the sidelines. RIFODQGHVWLQHLPPLJUDWLRQEHOLQNHG It is that the two parties, the govern- WR WKH UHVXUJHQFH RI DUPHG JURXS¶V ment and the ex-rebellion, decided on $UH \RX VWLOO KRSHIXO WKDW GHYHORS- DWWDFNV" a joint agreement to present to develo- PHQWSDUWQHUVZLOOFKDQJHWKHLUDWWL- pment partners as a resolution. WXGH" First, we cannot control these issues If these resolutions were applied, RQHDWDWLPH8SWRQRZWKHUHLVQR there would have been development It involves a global country policy and Security Council resolution for clan- in these zones and guaranteed peace. it goes back to Niger, for the govern- destine migration and one country All forms of insecurity are linked to ment to be pro-active with regard to alone cannot deal with it. Indeed, it unemployment and poverty. And in its partners to negotiate sustainable is true that the ex-combatants know speaking of partners, this includes development in these areas and throu- WKHDUHD$IWHUWKH3HDFH$JUHHPHQWV mining companies who must also ghout Niger in general. within the framework of socio-econo- contribute in order for there to be A clear policy is needed and develo- mic reinsertion, we gave each ex-com- security.• pment partners are always attentive batant 300 dollars. This sum is ridicu- Interview conducted by Michel Bolouvi

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