The revelation that the Gambia Immigration Department (GID) has sent a mobile team to help distressed Gambians facing immigration challenges in the Republic of Mauritania is not only bizarre but outright suspicious,” GFA noted while UDP stated it finds the given explanation as dubious, citing government’s refusal to implement diaspora voting under the pretext of logistical and financial constraints. It thus urges the National Assembly to summon the minister and Immigration director for explanation.
GFA reacts
“First, the lack of transparency necessary to reassure the public makes the exercise dubious. The admission by the immigration authorities of the existence of such a mission, only came about as a reaction to the public outcry over what is, by all accounts, a controversial policy,” GFA stated.
“It is bizarre that a department that has been unable to satisfy in-country demand for national identity documents, including drivers license, has found it necessary to mount a high powered mission to go and issue the same documents out-of-country; specifically to Gambians in Mauritania. The explanation given by the Gambia immigration directorate in a press release just doesn’t hold water, and could probably be even illegal. The immigration authorities must have been aware that African migrants in general, including Gambians, are facing greater danger and challenges in countries like Tunisia and Libya. One would expect that these countries would be accorded greater priority for intervention by the foreign ministry and the Gambia immigration department.”
“Notwithstanding the explanation offered by the GID directorate; is a mission of this type the correct decision? Gambian National Identity documents are normally issued only within the country to citizens and anyone legally entitled. Gambians outside the country are normally issued consular cards, travel documents, and passports to facilitate their status in their country of residence. Therefore, this begs the question about the possible motives of a high powered official mission, which strangely includes the SIS, and officers from other government departments. Consequently, one is bound to ask whether these officials are the new authorities that are empowered to identify, validate and provide attestation for Gambian citizenship.”
“It is the responsibility of all patriotic Gambians to protect the integrity of the Gambian electoral process and to safeguard our fledgling democracy. GFA calls on all Gambians to be vigilant, law abiding, and to protect the gains made through our relentless struggle for a better future.”
UDP reacts
“The real agenda seems to be voter manipulation ahead of 2026. This move is not about protecting Gambians abroad. It is a calculated scheme to register non-Gambians (particularly in border regions like Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, and Mauritania) as "Gambian voters." They will thus be easily transported during elections to swing votes in favour of President Barrow, just as was done in 2021 using attestations.”
“This is a scheme to expand the fraudulent attestation system internationally, bypassing scrutiny. Why Mauritania First? Mauritania has a significant Gambian migrant population, including many without clear documentation, and the government is testing this model before expanding to Senegal and other neighbouring countries.”
“National ID cards are for citizens inside The Gambia, not abroad. The Gambia already has mechanisms to assist citizens abroad:
- Consular Ids (issued by embassies) for identification.
- Emergency passports for travel (issued by embassies and counsellor offices).
- Birth certificates (after the Ministry of Health’s nationwide campaign for the new birth certificates).
So why issue NATIONAL IDs outside The Gambia? Because national IDs are directly linked to voter registration. This is a backdoor attempt to inflate the voter register ahead of 2026.”
