Despite
various media reports and party-political versions including unconfirmed
and uncorroborated accounts of Gambians
deported or about to be sent home from Germany, the Point has uncovered that
during most of last year ‘‘there were no deportations to The Gambia’’.
Sean
McGinley, managing director of the Refugee Council of Baden-Württemberg in
Germany, who is highly respected and regularly featured in the mainstream media
across Europe also disclosed that so-far, such deportations are ‘‘unlikely to
be significantly higher…’’
Following relentless investigations conducted
by this correspondent over the burning issues of both Gambian and Senegalese
refugees and asylum seekers in Germany, Sean McGinley, revealing the records
noted that ‘‘last year there were 63 deportations to Gambia living in
Baden-Württemberg…’’
The Southwest Germany State bordering France
and Switzerland is a focal point because is known for sheltering the largest
proportion of Gambian refugees.
However Sean McGinley, was quick to add that
‘‘there is no way to predict’’ how many Gambians will be deported during the
course of this year. Thus he accordingly asserted: ‘‘So I assume the total
number for all of Germany is unlikely to be significantly higher…’’
Most importantly, Sean McGinley noted that
‘‘it is a matter between the Governments of Gambia and Germany whether this
will change or not... Right now we simply to do not know… What we do know is
that the German authorities are very keen to increase the number of deportations
to Gambia, but of course they cannot do so without the cooperation of the
Gambian authorities…’’
As
far as Senegalese are concerned, Sean McGinley, said: ‘‘I can’t tell you much
about Senegalese asylum seekers because we hardly have any in Baden-Württemberg’’.
However, he revealed that ‘‘there are many
more’’ Senegalese nationals in Bavaria, a place also known to be the largest
German State by land area comprising roughly a fifth of the total land area of
the country. It also hosts several Senegalese nationals.
Nonetheless, according to Sean McGinley, ‘‘in
the first half of last year there were 14 deportations to Senegal’’.
He also commented on support and assistance by
the Refugee Council of Baden-Württemberg, well known and highly regarded for
helping refugees and asylum seekers.
Sean McGinley, noted that ‘‘…work in support
of those threatened with deportations includes advising on the existing
possibilities to achieve a right to stay despite having one’s asylum claim
rejected, organising information meetings and publishing information resources
on such subjects, and lobbying politicians and the public - in many cases
together with employers and businesses - to improve possibilities particularly
for those who have found jobs here to be able to stay…’’
