The Gambia Diaspora & Migration Directorate

20/08/2026

𝐏𝐔𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐂 𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓:

𝐆𝐈𝐃, 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫s 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐞 𝟓𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐁𝐢𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐄𝐧𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐄𝐱𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐈𝐧 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐲

The Gambia Immigration Department (GID) through the Ministry of Interior, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Gambians Abroad, wishes to inform Gambians in the diaspora that a mobile biometric passport enrollment team will be deployed to Spain and Italy from the 4 to 11 October 2026 to facilitate the fifth biometric passports enrollment process.

Gambians residing in both countries, as well as those across Europe, are strongly encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to obtain their passports.

The mobile team will deliver enrollment services at designated locations in both Spain and Italy, as detailed in the attached schedule. Payment can be made through this link: https://shopgov.zetesft.com/stepfactory.aspx?AGNT=1799

The GID urges all Gambians in the diaspora to leverage on this initiative to secure a valid travel document.

The Department remains committed to enhancing service delivery for Gambians abroad by improving access to essential documentation, facilitating lawful travel, and safeguarding their rights and interests.

14/08/2026

29/07/2026

The Government of The Gambia Strengthens National Capacity for Migration Governance

The Government of The Gambia, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, has launched a four-day Capacity Development Training on Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting to strengthen the effective implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM). The training is being conducted with the support of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the European Union (EU).

The programme brings together government officials, private sector representatives, civil society organizations, and key migration stakeholders from the National Coordination Mechanism on Migration (NCM) and its eight Thematic Working Groups (TWGs). It aims to strengthen institutional capacity for evidence-based, results-oriented, and gender-responsive migration governance.

Opening the training on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, the Director of Diaspora and Migration, Ms. Ndumbeh Saho, reaffirmed The Gambia's commitment to strengthening migration governance through evidence-based policymaking, robust monitoring systems, and strong partnerships. She emphasized that the next phase of GCM implementation should focus on demonstrating measurable outcomes and ensuring that migration continues to contribute to sustainable development and human dignity.

The Director stated that The Gambia's engagement in the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration is underpinned by the firm conviction that migration, when well governed, is a catalyst for sustainable development, human dignity, and shared prosperity. She emphasized that the capacity development training represents an important milestone in strengthening national systems for monitoring, evaluation and reporting, enabling institutions to move beyond activity-based reporting towards a more results-oriented and accountable approach to migration governance.

She further noted that strengthening national capacities in these areas will enhance the country's ability to generate reliable data and evidence, inform policy and decision-making, and assess the impact of migration policies and programmes. This, she said, will support The Gambia's efforts to maximize the developmental contributions of migrants and the Gambian diaspora to both host and home communities, while effectively addressing migration challenges, protecting the rights and well-being of migrants.

In her opening remarks, The Ambassador of the European Union to The Gambia, H.E. Immaculada Roca i Cortés, underscored the critical role of data and evidence in informing migration policy. She noted that effective migration governance is built on strong institutions, reliable data, sound evidence, and transparent accountability, and reaffirmed the European Union's continued partnership in supporting The Gambia's efforts to strengthen migration governance.

Representing the International Organization for Migration, Ms. Sibgha Ajaz, Officer-in-Charge in The Gambia, highlighted that effective migration governance depends on reliable data, strong coordination, and the ability to translate evidence into practical action. She reaffirmed IOM's commitment to providing continued technical support to strengthen national migration systems and advance the implementation of the GCM.

As a Champion Country for the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, The Gambia remains committed to promoting safe, orderly, and regular migration through strengthened institutions, inclusive partnerships, and evidence-based implementation that benefits migrants, communities, and national development.

22/07/2026

𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞
𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐈𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐚 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐅𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐌𝐢𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐁𝐨𝐚𝐭 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐚𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐚

09/07/2026

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐢𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐬 𝐐𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠

𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐉𝐔𝐋, 𝟖𝐭𝐡 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad convened the quarterly meeting of the National Coordination Mechanism on Migration (NCM) at the Bakadaji Hotel, bringing together representatives from government ministries, departments and agencies, development partners, civil society organizations, academia, and other key stakeholders.

Delivering the opening remarks, Ambassador Lang Yabou, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, welcomed participants and commended their continued commitment to strengthening migration governance in The Gambia through dialogue, coordination, and partnership.

He described the NCM as the Government’s principal platform for coordinating migration governance, promoting a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach by fostering meaningful collaboration among government institutions, civil society, development partners, academia, and diaspora stakeholders.

Ambassador Yabou also reflected on The Gambia’s recent participation in the International Migration Review Forum (IMRF), describing it as an important opportunity to showcase the country’s progress in implementing the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM). He commended the Technical Working Group Leads and NCM members for their sustained collaboration and expressed appreciation to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) for its continued technical and financial support, describing the Organization as a trusted partner in strengthening national migration governance.

Delivering a statement on behalf of IOM, Mr. George Andrews, National Programme Officer for Labour Mobility and Social Inclusion, reaffirmed the Organization’s appreciation for the Ministry’s leadership and unwavering commitment to advancing migration governance in The Gambia.

He noted that the quarterly meeting provides an important opportunity to reflect on the outcomes of the IMRF, review progress achieved by the Thematic Working Groups, and identify priorities for the months ahead. He also welcomed discussions on the review of the NCM structure, the proposed Cabinet Paper, and the Draft Gender-Responsive GCM Implementation Plan.

The meeting brought together representatives from government institutions, security services, regional administration bodies, development partners, academia, and civil society organizations, underscoring The Gambia’s whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to migration governance.

The two-day meeting will continue with technical sessions focusing on national migration priorities, capacity needs assessments, and discussions on the way forward to further strengthen the institutional framework of the National Coordination Mechanism on Migration.

29/06/2026

The Gambia Strengthens Regional Leadership on Missing Migrants

Following the successful conclusion of the nationwide Regional Consultations on Missing Migrants in Banjul, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad (MoFA) has continued to advance The Gambia's leadership on migration governance at the regional level by co-chairing, alongside Switzerland, the second in-person meeting of the Network of National Focal Points for Missing Migrants under the Rabat Process.

Held in Geneva, Switzerland, from 24–25 June 2026, the meeting built on the outcomes of the national consultations organized by the Ministry, which brought together government institutions, security services, traditional leaders, civil society organizations, community representatives, and development partners to examine the challenges surrounding missing migrant cases and identify practical solutions to strengthen national prevention, response, and coordination mechanisms.

Building on these national efforts, The Gambia joined Switzerland in leading discussions among Rabat Process partner countries on strengthening regional cooperation to address the issue of missing migrants. Supported by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which serves as the Secretariat of the Network, the meeting convened National Focal Points and key partners to enhance collaboration on preventing migrant disappearances, improving cross-border information sharing, strengthening tracing and identification processes, and ensuring that families remain at the centre of all responses.

Discussions also focused on translating political commitments into concrete operational action through stronger whole-of-government coordination, enhanced cooperation between humanitarian and forensic actors, and the development of practical mechanisms for case referral, identification, and family support.

The Gambia's role as co-chair reflects the country's growing leadership within the Rabat Process and its continued commitment to working with regional and international partners to develop coordinated, humane, and family-centred responses to the challenge of missing migrants.

13/06/2026

Regional Consultations on Missing Migrants Conclude in North Bank Region

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad (MoFA), in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), yesterday concluded its nationwide series of Regional Consultations on Missing Migrants in Kerewan, North Bank Region (NBR).

The consultations, which were conducted across the West Coast Region, Lower River Region, Central River Region, Upper River Region, and North Bank Region, brought together government institutions, security services, traditional leaders, civil society organizations, community representatives, and development partners to examine the challenges surrounding missing migrant cases and identify practical approaches to strengthening national responses.

The Director of Diaspora and Migration at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Ndumbeh Saho, used the occasion to engage directly with families of missing migrants, assuring them of the Government’s continued commitment to investigating cases of missing migrants, protecting the rights and dignity of affected families, and providing the necessary support and assistance in their search for answers.

The Governor of the North Bank Region, Mr. Lamin Saidykhan, welcomed participants and commended the initiative for creating a platform that enables communities and institutions to contribute directly to discussions on migration-related challenges. He encouraged continued cooperation among stakeholders and underscored the important role of communities in supporting awareness-raising, reporting, and local engagement efforts.

Delivering remarks on behalf of the Ministry, Mr. Abubacarr Ceesay, Counsellor, reaffirmed The Gambia’s commitment to addressing the issue through a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach. He noted that the consultations form part of broader efforts to strengthen national coordination, improve case management processes, and ensure that the experiences and concerns of affected families are reflected in ongoing policy and programme interventions.

Speaking on behalf of IOM, Mr. Ousman George Badjie, National Programme Officer, highlighted the humanitarian dimensions of missing migrant cases, noting that behind every disappearance are families and communities living with uncertainty and unanswered questions. He stressed the importance of collaboration, evidence generation, and sustained stakeholder engagement in supporting prevention efforts, tracing mechanisms, and assistance for affected families.

Throughout the consultations, participants exchanged experiences, identified existing challenges, and proposed recommendations aimed at improving information-sharing, strengthening institutional cooperation, enhancing support services for affected families, and promoting greater community participation in addressing missing migrant cases.

The recommendations generated from the five regional consultations will contribute to ongoing national efforts to develop a more coordinated, inclusive, and people-centred response to the issue of missing migrants in The Gambia.

12/06/2026

Regional Consultation on Missing Migrants Continues in Upper River Region

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs-The Gambia in collaboration with the IOM The Gambia today continued the Regional Consultation on Missing Migrants in Basse, Upper River Region.

The consultation was attended by the Governor of the Upper River Region, Samba Bah, alongside representatives of government institutions, civil society organizations, community leaders, families of missing migrants and traditional authorities.

The engagement seeks to strengthen collaboration among stakeholders to prevent migrant disappearances, enhance efforts to investigate cases of missing migrants, and improve support mechanisms for affected families and communities. The consultation also provides a platform for sharing experiences, identifying challenges, and developing coordinated approaches to address the issue of missing migrants in the region.

The regional consultations form part of ongoing efforts to promote safer migration pathways and ensure that families of missing migrants receive the necessary assistance, information, and support.

11/06/2026

Regional Consultation on Missing Migrants Continues in Central River Region

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), yesterday continued the Regional Consultation on Missing Migrants in the Central River Region.

The consultation brought together Deputy Governor Sainey Mbye, representatives of the The Gambia Police Force, the The Gambia Immigration Department, traditional leaders, civil society organizations, community stakeholders, and development partners.

Discussions focused on strengthening coordination, improving reporting and information-sharing mechanisms, and enhancing support for families affected by missing migrant cases. Participants also shared perspectives and recommendations aimed at reinforcing national and community-level responses to the issue.

The consultation caravan continues to the Upper River Region as stakeholder engagements progress across the country, underscoring the Government’s commitment to addressing the challenges associated with missing migrants through inclusive dialogue and collaborative action.

10/06/2026

Regional Consultation on Missing Migrants Continues in Lower River Region

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs-The Gambia in partnership with the International Organization for Migration, today continued its regional consultation on Missing Migrants at the Governor’s Office in the Lower River Region (LRR).

The meeting brought together government institutions, security services, traditional leaders, civil society organizations, and community stakeholders to discuss challenges related to missing migrant cases and identify practical measures to strengthen coordination, reporting mechanisms, and support for affected families.

Governor Seedy Lamin Bah welcomed participants and emphasized the importance of collaboration in addressing migration-related challenges and supporting families affected by missing migrant cases.

The consultations will continue in the Central River Region (CRR) as part of efforts to develop practical recommendations for strengthening responses to missing migrants across The Gambia.