Thousands
of Gambians in Italy have been in celebratory mood since Adama Barrow, leader
of the coalition of seven opposition parties and an independent candidate, has
been declared winner of the 1st December presidential election in The Gambia.
For
them, Barrow’s election is “a revolutionary victory”.
Andrew
Gomez, a Gambian in Italy, said: “The
1st December 2016 marked a new chapter in the political history of The
Gambia. For the first time a president
is voted out freely in The Gambia. This
is a great.”
Similarly,
Abdoulie Bah said: “I left The Gambia
since 2003 and could not go back due to many political misfortunes. My family has gone through very difficult
years with my brother in prison. We all
thought of a day like this but we never believe it will come this soon. Now I am not a refugee anymore and I can’t
wait to speak to my brother after 13 years.”
Many
others declared their immediate interests to go back home and see their loved
ones after a long period. With the
regime change, Gambians in Italy are calling on all those in diaspora to unite
behind the Coalition government and invest in the country.
According
to statistics, more than 25 thousands Gambians have entred Europe though the
Mediterranean in the past three years.
Most of them are youth.
The
incumbent APRC government is said to have compelled many Gambians to seek for
either asylum or greener pasture outside.
However, more than half of Gambian asylum seekers in Europe are rejected
a first go but most are later reconsidered.
For
the fact that there is a new government, many Gambians in Italy have openly
declared their intentions to go back home and invest.
Baba
Camara said: “My wish is to stay and
work in The Gambia but this was not possible and that is why I am still in
Italy for 15 years. I have many things
in The Gambia secretly but I would now want to claim them openly and stay where
I am a citizen of. I love it there in
Gambia.”
Meanwhile,
although Gambians in different parts of Italy continue to jubilate the change
of government back home but the changes may really mean no or less asylum for
Gambians in the nearest future.
And
in the worst case scenario, all failed asylum seekers could be deported back to
Gambia now that the regressive government back home is almost no more. However, such deportation is easier said than
done.
