About 800 undocumented Gambians face imminent deportation from Germany, says a senior German government official who is on a working visit to Banjul.

Dr. Stefan Oswald, a senior official of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development has said that 800 Gambians were being processed to be deported from Germany immediately “because they have no right under German law to stay in the country.” 

Oswald said that there were over 4,000 undocumented Gambians who had exhausted all their rights to stay in Germany and were expected to leave or face forceful removal.

He said some undocumented Gambians who were undergoing medical treatments  or in education were being given temporary reprieve to stay in the country. He clarified that there were about 16, 000 Gambians legally resident in the country.

Oswald’s trip to Gambia was to visit the Gambia Technical Training Institute (GTTI) Annex in Mansa Konko which is being sponsored by the German Government to provide training for unemployed Gambian youths and  returnees from Europe. The project is meant to improve their employment prospect.

Two pilot training courses of one year in production and repair of agricultural tools as well as solar Technic on household level are due to be carried out at the institute. Each batch is expected to accommodate 20 students, with 5 places secured for returnees.