By Kemo Kanyi
Yahya Sonko, Migration and Human Rights activist based in Germany, has described the mass deportation of Gambians as human rights violations spearheaded by the European Union flouting the international law.
“In recent years, the European Union (EU) has intensified its mass deportations of Gambian immigrants residing within its member states, purportedly under the guise of agreements aimed at fostering good practice. However, the stark realities on the ground paint a picture of flagrant disregard for fundamental human rights and a failure to uphold the principles enshrined in international law,” he decried in a statement received by the Voice.
He said about 2,000 Gambian migrants were returned in recent years, but the central agreement for their reintegration was never taken into consideration by the parties involved.
“Germany in particular, has been at the forefront of these deportation efforts, with over 1,800 Gambian immigrants forcibly removed from its soil through chartered deportation flights and commercial means. Italy and Sweden have also partaken in similar actions, citing agreements with the Barrow government as justification,” he noted.
“Central to these agreements was the EU’s commitment to providing support for the reception, reintegration, and development of communities of origin for returnees. Yet, the promises of sustainable reintegration have largely gone unfulfilled, leaving deportees stranded without adequate support upon their return to The Gambia,” he fumed.
He added that reports of inhumane treatment and brutality at the hands of German police during deportation processes, such as the alleged torture of Saikou Kanteh, further underscore the systemic failures and violations of human rights inherent in these operations.
Mr. Sonko called on the EU to hold itself to the highest standards of accountability and compassion in their treatment of migrants and refugees.
