The rule is definite, cars up to 5 years and trucks (seemingly everything above 3.5 tonnes but this hasnt been confirmed) up to 10 years, with the exception of this no one gets in, no excuses, no bribes. I've spoken to a lot of people in Senegal the last couple of weeks, including two senior civil servants in the customs in St Louis and Dakar, and know people who have passed Senegal 6 days ago and the rule sticks.

There is the possibility tio take a "customs convoy" through Senegal to Gambia, Conakry or Bissau. What happens is that as customs official travels in your car to make sure you dont try to sell it. I have taken several convoys from Dakar port to The border and everytime things have gone very smoothly. The cost to Gambia seems to be CFA155,000 according to a post on www.sahara-info.ch which seems about right. To Bissau its CFA180,000 and to Conakry about the same. The convoy travels along a pre detirmined route. It is possible to hve up to four cars in a convoy, after this there is a need for a second official. This way at least some of the costs can be shared. If you go to the Gambia you will also need another convoy to get out again.

The law in itself is mad, even for African standards, and it is politically motivated, not economically. I hope it will change at the end of the year, when the first wave of french tourists come down and start to get peed off waiting in Rosso. If they put enough pressure´on their embassy in Dakar it could be they change the law allowing cars over 5 years to enter but not to be registered. I suppose we will have to wait and see.

That the embassy in london knows nothing about it doesnt surprise me.