Senegal's Société des Brasseries de l'Ouest Africain (SOBOA) is now the sole supplier of soft drinks to The Gambia following the abrupt suspension of production at Gambega.  

"All the soft drinks that we consume in The Gambia now are from Senegal," said an insider at the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment.  

Gambega, which is an authorised bottler for the Coca Cola Company, suspended production shortly after the arrival of the new government.  

A former manager at the company disclosed: "Gambega now imports all their drinks from Senegal. They are more like distributors now." 

He added: "I don't know the exactreason behind it, but it might be as a result of the government's controversial decision to hike taxes on soft drinks and alcoholic beverages." 

Established in 1929, SOBOA is Senegal's biggest beverage company.