EU escalates row with Gambia over expelled migrants

The EU could tighten visa requirements for Gambians following Banjul's refusal to accept deportees from Germany. Experts say Gambia's decision to reject its citizens could have wider consequences.

The European Union is mulling over Gambia's decision to deny landing permits to flights carrying Gambian deportees from EU countries — particularly Germany. More than 2,000 Gambian migrants who have exhausted their asylum appeals in Germany are awaiting repatriation.

According to initial plans, the first batch of "failed Gambian asylum-seekers" was expected to arrive in Banjul, Gambia's cap

ital, on September 1. But an official from Gambia's Foreign Ministry responsible for diaspora affairs told local media that Gambia's new position is not to accept requests for deportations. Gambia has cited secu

rity concerns and the inability to reintegrate as reasons for its decision.

Gawaya Tegulle, a Ugandan expert in international law, said the move is unlawful. He argued that each sovereign state has an obligation to welcome back its nationals to its territory at any time. "Therefore, the action per se by the government of the Gambia has no place under international law," Tegulle told DW. "It is illegal before we start even to list the demerits of the circumstances surrounding the decision."

Tegulle also added, however, that he disagreed with Germany's move to send hundreds of Gambians back home. "We are seeing two wrong decisions. I do not agree that the decision to deport all these people is lawful," Tegulle said.

EU contemplating visa restrictions

The European Union plans to tighten visa requirements for Gambian nationals — a decision

that may affect the entire African continent. "Looking at history, I suspect we may be going close to sanctions against government officials of Gambia," said Tegulle, adding that it was now conceivable that there could be wider visa restrictions from the EU and other Western nations affecting not only Gambia, but Africans in general.

Gambian migrants were deported from Libya in 2017 — now the EU is also trying to send them home

Experts have said Europe and Africa need to have a frank discussion on the migration crisis