14 Gambians `expected to arrive in the country from Germany on Wednesday flight was cancelled due to increase in coronavirus cases, official of ministry of foreign affairs said.
The foreign affairs ministry said the cancellation came from the German authorities following a diplomatic dialogue between the two nations’ foreign ministry.
Saikou Ceesay, communication officer foreign of ministry confirmed the cancelation, revealing that the 14 Gambian detained in Germany flight were cancelled because of the ongoing engagement the Gambia government is having with its European partners.
“So, this was possible due to the current surge in number of COVID-19 cases. That is to say the deportation was cancelled due to the insurgence of the coronavirus pandemic,” he said.
He further said, the cancellation did not indicate withdrawal of the deportation due to the COVID-19 insurgence or will still go ahead after the pandemic.
“This I can tell you is still based on a further engagement with our European partners,” he noted.
On Wednesday, Yaya Sonko, spokesman for Gambia Refugee Association said he was informed by deportee their flight was delayed at Frankfort airport in Germany.
He said the reason behind the cancellation of the deportation is still not known by his association adding that the association is currently working on legal grounds with the refugee council in Baden-Wurttemberg to help in the release of the 14 detained Gambians from prison.
“One of the 14 detained persons ready for deportation have to appeal to the German police in order to phone and informed me of their cancelled deportation which I asked him to hand over the telephone to one of the police to talk who then told me to inquire from the Gambia government or the German authorities for information.
“So, at the moment as Gambia refugee association in Germany we are working on legal grounds with a refugee council in Baden-Wurttemberg to assist us with a legal support to free them from prison.
Because there is a law in Germany, that mentioned about a detention period for deportation. So, if that time expired and you do not have any flight to deport that person then the person should be freed. So, this is what we are working with German refugee council at the moment,” he added.