At least 32 Gambian children have been repatriated home from Senegal. 

The repatriation was a joint cooperation with the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare, Senegalese authorities, Ecowas Gender Centre, and UN agencies.

No reason is so far given on the conditions behind the reparation of the children.

“The Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare in partnership with the ECOWAS Gender Centrer, CEDAG and UN agencies yesterday received 32 Gambian children and a baby at the Amdalai border post. The children were handed over to the Gambian authorities by their Senegalese counterparts working in the area of child protection,” the ministry said in a statement.

Director of Social Welfare Jankoba Jabbie commended the efforts of the authorities of both countries in ensuring that these children underwent a safe travel from Senegal and be returned to their families.

Mrs. Bintou H.K Fatty Director of Children Affairs at the MoWCSW also highlighted that child protection is everyone’s responsibility and ensuring a safe environment for children is the utmost priority of her directorate.

The representatives of ECOWAS and CEDAG highlighted similar sentiments, whilst CEDAG will work with the Department of Social Welfare in family tracing and reintegration of the children back to their families.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba