By Mustapha Jallow
Chief Superintendent Mamanding S. Dibba, the Spokesperson for the Gambia Immigration Department (GID), on Monday, 5 August 2024 warned that Gambian citizens moving around without national documents may face prosecution for violating the law.
He made this warning following the conviction of 33 foreign nationals, who are expected to return to their native countries.
Before the conviction, authorities began rounding up and expelling foreigners illegally living in the country.
The men convicted by the Brikama Magistrates’ Court on August 5th, 2024, include Guineans, Senegalese, Nigerians, Malians, Sierra Leoneans, Beninians, and Ivoirians among others.
“Gambians and non-Gambians need to be accounted for as far as your stay in this country is concerned. How do we account for you? You need to carry valid documents at any point of your movement,’’ he explained.
“It is so sad sometimes our Law Enforcement Officers would ask Gambians they meet on the streets to produce their identity, and all you hear is that (don’t you know I am a Gambian or if you see a Gambian can’t you recognize one?). It is only your document that will identify you as a Gambian and residence of this country,’’ he emphasised.
The Immigration PRO said it is against the Immigration laws for a Gambian above the age of 18 years to be moving around without a valid Identification Document (ID).
He further stated that GID will continue to prosecute offenders, including Gambians who are found wanting.
According to him, over the years and to date, the Immigration Department has been receiving widespread criticism over its failure to produce the National Identity document (ID) cards to its citizens while Some citizens expressed difficulties getting the ID from the Department.
Speaking further during a news briefing at the GID’s Migration Centre in Tanji, Sulayman Kujabi, Commissioner of Operations for GID, said the repatriation of all 33 illegal foreigners, including Senegalese will soon take place. He described these individuals as prohibited immigrants who have stayed in the country without documentation.
Commissioner Kujabi warned how the Gambia is now becoming a target and transit country for irregular migrants, especially from Ecowas member states and among other nationals.
He said an operation referred to as “Operations Hold the Line and Clean the Nation from Prohibited Migrants’’ was launched in August 2024.
The new approach instituted by GID, according to Kujabi, is meant to prevent hardcore criminals from using Gambia as their haven, as well as detect and deter irregular migration, and possible removal of prohibited migrants and prosecution of perpetrators of trans-organized crimes such as human trafficking, drug peddling and other cross-border related crimes that are threatening the country’s national security.
“We also realized that some business owners are employing foreign nationals without regularizing their status. Likewise, house owners or agents should not allow any foreign national who does not own a visiting pass. It is prohibited in our laws,’’ he warned.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Operations thanked the Gambia Police Force (GPF) and other sister security agencies for supporting their quest to curb illegal foreigners and other related crimes.
However, GID was unable to report the costs that would be involved in the deportation of these nationals, when asked by local reporters.
