By Makutu Manneh
The Gambia Immigration Department (GID) has received 52 Gambian migrant returnees from Mauritania during the week at the Amdalai border post. The repatriation was facilitated by the Gambian Embassy in Mauritania in collaboration with the GID.
According to the department, the returnees comprised 37 males, 12 females, and three minors. Upon arrival, they were processed through the Migration Information and Data Analysis System (MIDAS), where they were registered, profiled, and subsequently released to reunite with their families and communities.
GID disclosed that Emergency Travel Certificates (ETCs) were issued to the migrants to facilitate their smooth movement across international borders. The department noted that this process underscores its commitment to the efficient reception and reintegration of Gambian returnees.
The department further highlighted that the exercise forms part of its broader strategic engagement to identify and protect Gambian nationals abroad. It also reaffirmed its ongoing efforts to discourage young Gambians from embarking on irregular and often perilous migration journeys in search of entry into Europe.
In a related development, the GID, in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), received 150 stranded Gambian migrants from Libya at the Banjul International Airport.
“The repatriation underscores the commitment of the International Organization for Migration and the Gambia Immigration Department to facilitating the safe return of stranded migrants to their countries of origin,” the Department stated, adding that the exercise also reflects its support for the IOM’s Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) Programme.
GID emphasized that the initiative highlights the Government of The Gambia’s continued commitment to protecting the rights and welfare of its citizens abroad, ensuring their safe return, and supporting their reintegration into society through family reunification.
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