By Ndey Sowe
The Director General of The Gambia Immigration Department (GID), Ebrima Mboob, has said the department remains deeply committed to ensuring the domestication and enforcement of the ECOWAS Free Movement Protocol, which serves as a foundation for the rights of ECOWAS citizens to move freely, reside, and establish where desired, sans frontiers.
“We have come a long way in implementing these regional obligations, and our progress in areas such as the issuance of biometric identification documents, border control, and mobility management stands as a testament to our collective dedication to agreements and policy decisions,” DG Mboob outlined.
DG Mboob made this and other remarks during a two-day meeting marking the 8th annual Heads of Immigration Forum by the ECOWAS Commission hosted by The Gambia for the first time held at the Sir Dawada Kairaba Jawara International Conference Center, Bijilo on Monday, 23rd of September, 2024.
The forum that centered on the theme: “Acceleration of the Deployment of the ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card (ENBIC) and the Abolishing of the 90 Days Stay Limit/Resident Permits for Community Citizens”, provides an exceptional platform to address the critical issues surrounding free movement of community citizens, challenges and migration governance in the region.
Over the years, the forum has served as a crucial platform for member states to engage, deliberate, and collaborate on emerging issues related to mobility, border management, and migration.
DG Mboob added: “Today, we continue this tradition of unity, as we work towards overcoming the challenges associated with cross-border mobility while capitalizing on the opportunities it brings for our region’s growth.”
DG Mboob clearly stated that since 2018, The Government of The Gambia and the Ministry of Interior endeavored tirelessly to strengthen the issuance of biometric ID cards, ensuring that all ECOWAS citizens in The Gambia have access, to secure and recognized documentation.
He therefore emphasized the importance of collaboration; the challenges faced by managing cross-border migration and securing border management require partnership and shared strategies.
Mrs Kemi Nanna Nandap, Chairperson of the Heads of Immigration Meeting stated that the forum should serve as a sustained drive to foster greater regional integration, deviate from any encumbrance to free movement, residence, and establishment, and should be a hallmark of policy practice nexus for the ECOWAS as a regional body.
She therefore highlighted the ECOWAS initiatives provided for the progressive implementation of rights of entry, residence, and establishment for community citizens in the region.
Meanwhile, she said the ECOWAS common approach enables stronger national mechanisms related to coordination on how to deal with cross-cutting issues including policy harmonization, irregular migration, and the promotion of the rights of migrants and refugees.
“We need strategies to accelerate and implement the ENBIC component and abolish the 90-day stay limit and conditions of residence permit of community citizens,” she stated.
Mr Babucarr Boye, the Minister of Public Service, Administrative Reform, Policy Coordination and Delivery who represented the Gambia’s Minister of Interior, said the government through the Ministry of Interior remains fully committed to providing the necessary technological infrastructure, and capacity required for GID.
Moreover, he noted that their goal is to modernize immigration services and ensure those borders are not only controlled, but fully compliant with regional and international standards.
Meanwhile, he outlined that the Security Sector Reforms (SSR) have and will continue to provide immigration officers with the tools, skills, and training needed to meet the demands of today’s complex border management environment.
