By: Nyima Sillah
Germany-based migration and human rights activistYahya Sonko has maintained that the Barrow administration cooperated with the EU in 2023 to deport undocumented Gambian migrants from the EU.
According to him, the deportation rate this year is unprecedented, adding that the EU has not been fair to Gambians.
“It is very clear to everyone that this year, the Barrow government really cooperated with the EU with regards to the readmission of Gambians from the EU. The number of deportees The Gambia received this year alone has never happened in the history of the country,” Sonko told The Voice.
It would be recalled that the EU Commission earlier this week announced that it would reimpose an 80 EUR standard fee on Gambians for the failure of their government to cooperate on the readmission of its citizens.
However, the migration activist said that as of 27 September 2023, the Gambia government agreed and received nine chartered deportation flights from the EU, adding that more than 250 Gambians were deported from the EU during the period under review.
Sonko asserted that accurate data about the number of Gambian migrants within the EU borders poses the biggest challenge to the Gambia government, saying without the correct statistics the government can never work on solutions with regard to deportations and irregular migration.
“The EU looks at the statistics of Gambia migrants, especially the undocumented migrants in the EU zone. More than 20,000 undocumented Gambian migrants are living within the EU zone. By going through European Union Asylum & Migration laws, all these Gambians should leave the EU zone voluntarily orthrough deportations,” he highlighted.
Mr. Sonko explained that reliable data allow for the integration of all migrants in policy-making, explaining that good policies depend on sound evidence and assessments to inform decisions on the best course of action.
He stated that comprehensive and disaggregated data can help policymakers develop sound and evidence-based policies to ensure no migrant is left behind.Migration data, he pointed out, also highlightsmigrants’ contributions.
“Migrants fill essential job positions in countries of destination and have much to contribute to their countries of origin through remittances, knowledgetransfer, trade, and foreign direct investment. Having the right data can support governments, and communities in harnessing that potential,” he stressed.
He advised the Barrow government to work onestablishing accurate statistics of Gambian migrants in the EU, adding that would be the only way to come up with suitable policies and programs to help them in their engagements with the EU.