The Embassy further notes that the passport enrolment team is NOT PERMANENTLY BASED IN MADRID, but travels periodically from Banjul to conduct enrolment exercises. As a result, demand for both new passports and renewals tends to accumulate between visits, leading to higher volumes of applicants when the team is present.
Consequently, queues have formed outside the Embassy. While such demand is not unusual during consular exercises, the current volume of applicants has far exceeded normal levels because of the short regularisation timeframe.
The Embassy can confirm that there was a brief incident in which a number of individuals attempted to (and some successfully) gained access to the premises outside established procedures, by scaling the fence and forcing themselves through the door. The situation was promptly brought under control with the assistance of the police, and normal order was restored. No injuries or arrests were made.
The Embassy wishes to assure the public, particularly Gambians, that in future, appropriate measures will be taken to manage the situation more effectively to ensure safety and order, whilst appealing for some degree of decorum and orderliness. This should enable a faster and easier process for all citizens.
The Embassy remains committed to serving its nationals in a safe, orderly, and efficient manner.
Also note that passport books are not issued from the embassy here, applicants are only enrolled and details sent realtime for printing. So the information about passport books being finished is untrue. With regards to the passport application forms, there are more than enough to accommodate every Gambian here. Infact some of these forms will be taken to Italy for similar exercise.
