Germany Repatriates Over 1,300 Gambian Nationals Since 2018

Since 2018, Germany has facilitated the return of more than 1,300 individuals to The Gambia, according to reports from AllAfrica Top. These repatriations, totaling 1,369 Gambian nationals, have seen a significant upswing in frequency particularly over the most recent three-year period, as German officials have amplified their initiatives to implement immigration policies. The initial deportations from Germany to The Gambia began in 2018. Over the succeeding five years, until 2022, approximately 509 Gambian citizens were sent back. However, the pace of returns accelerated sharply from the start of 2023, with 860 individuals repatriated within the subsequent year and a half, extending to June 2024. The figures reveal a clear trend: the number of Gambians returned in the 18 months from January 2023 surpasses the total from the preceding five years. This indicates a heightened rate of enforcement and return operations by German authorities. The overall count of 1,369 Gambian returnees was confirmed in a letter dated June 10, 2024, originating from Germany's Ambassador to The Gambia, Klaus Botzet. Ambassador Botzet's communication was directed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoLA) in Gambia. Within this correspondence, he outlined his embassy's participation in a recent meeting held in Banjul, which centered on the subject of returns and reintegration. During this assembly, discussions took place between Ambassador Botzet and Gambian officials. The Ambassador reportedly highlighted that the process of repatriation is primarily driven by court decisions and judgments made in Germany. These legal rulings, which are final, mandate the return of individuals to their countries of origin. He further elaborated that individuals deemed eligible for return often present themselves voluntarily to German migration offices. Many of those returning have reportedly concluded their asylum procedures, which are in accordance with German legal frameworks. The Ambassador emphasized that the German government is committed to ensuring that these processes are carried out in a legal and orderly fashion.