EXCLUSIVE: At least 18 Gambians were deported from the German state of Baden-Württemberg, a spokesman for the Gambia Refugee Association in Germany has told Gambiana in an exclusive interview. 

Yaya Sonko said the most deported nationals were from The Gambia and Georgia.

“In the first quarter of the year 2021, a total of 244 people were deported from Baden-Württemberg.”

He said other nationals were also deported to their respective countries by the German authorities.

“In Senegal there were only one, Somalia one and countries like Mali, Cameroon, Congo, Ghana, Bissau did not accept any deportees.”

Mr Sonko urged The Gambia Government “not to give more concentration to European Union so-called sanction threats,” adding “[The] Gambia did enough and EU should appreciate the numbers of deportees Gambia received.”

He described the number of deported Gambians from Europe as “huge” which he said “comparing it with the way the current Barrow lead Government is struggling with youth employment and creation of better job opportunities for these returnees.”

According to him, a study carried out by the European Union Commission revealed that Gambia is among the 39 states that regularly prevent the withdrawal of their own citizens.

“Going by the EU Commission list of countries and numbers of deportees, you will realise that Gambia Government in fact received more deportations than all of the west African countries,” Mr Sonko said.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba