The Gambia government’s moratorium on the deportation of undocumented Gambians from the European Union will expire this month, the Foreign Minister Dr. Mamadou Tangara has said.

The Foreign minister made the disclosure during a meeting last Thursday with the French Charge d’affaires Joel Godeau.

Dr Tangara told the French envoy that “modalities are to be worked out with partners regarding the repatriation of Gambians abroad given that the moratorium placed by the Government of The Gambia is to be expired in January 2020”.

Last year the Barrow government instituted a moratorium on the deportation of undocumented Gambians from countries in the European Union after a huge public outcry and demonstrations. The government complained to their EU partners that the country needed more time to cope with the large returnees.

It is estimated that between 2013 and 2017 about 40, 000 Gambians left the country for Europe through irregular migration locally known as ‘backway’ via Libya.