#Headlines

GID confirms issuance of ID cards to Gambians in Mauritania

May 7, 2025, 11:04 AM

The Gambia Immigration Department (GID) has announced the issuance of National Identity Cards to 531 Gambians in Mauritania, as part of its mobile programme for providing national documents to Gambians living abroad.

"The GID is pleased to report that a total of 531 Gambian residents in Mauritania were successfully enrolled by the mobile enrolment team. Of this number, 389 ID cards have already been printed and dispatched to the Gambian Embassy in Mauritania.”

"The remaining 142 applications are currently being printed for onward delivery. Importantly, all printed ID cards will be delivered along with the corresponding payment receipts to the applicants.

"During the course of the deployment in Mauritania, the GID took note of unfounded claims made by certain public and social commentators alleging that National ID Cards are not relevant for the regularization of nationality status abroad," it said.

The Department stated that the bilateral cooperation between the Government of The Gambia and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania fully recognizes the Gambian National ID Card as a valid document for the regularization of nationality status, contrary to such inaccurate assertions.

On a separate matter, the GID regrets to announce that the Amdalai Immigration Border Post received twenty-seven (27) Gambian returnees from Mauritania on 4th May 2025, escorted by Hon. Saikouba Jarjou, Deputy Head of Mission in Mauritania.

These migrant returnees consist of undocumented Gambian nationals who were unable to access the services of the mobile enrolment team during the period of deployment. The returnees are currently being processed at the Migration Management Unit in Tanji and further reunited with their families and loved ones. Imperatively, the return of these stranded migrants further underscores the Government’s efforts to support Gambian migrants in regularizing their immigration status in the Republic of Mauritania through initiatives such as the deployment of the mobile team.

The GID extends its utmost appreciation to the Government of The Gambia, the Gambian Embassy in Mauritania, and the Gambian Embassy in Dakar for their invaluable support in facilitating the successful enrolment of migrants and their subsequent cooperation in the orderly return of the few undocumented migrants affected. The GID reaffirms its unwavering dedication to service and remains committed to answering the call of Gambians, both at home and abroad. END Signed: Inspector Siman Lowe Public Relations Officer, GID.