By Adama Makasuba
Mama Kandeh, the leader of the Gambia Democratic Congress, has pledged to halt the deportation of Gambian migrants residing in Western countries. Gambians living in European nations, particularly Germany, have been encountering deportation issues since 2018, following allegations that the Barrow government entered into a deportation agreement with the European Union. The government has refuted these claims as untrue.
During a political rally in Jimara, Kandeh, a two-time presidential election runner-up, emphasized the need for change in The Gambia. He stressed that the youth of the nation deserve a promising future, citing concerns about the treatment of Gambian youth who traveled to Europe only to face deportation. Kandeh pledged that under the GDC government, no Gambian would be deported back to the country, questioning the necessity of signing deportation agreements. He pointed out that such contracts were not in place during Yahya Jammeh’s regime. He asked why they were being pursued now, emphasizing that it is the government’s responsibility to address these issues.
Kandeh assured the audience that, under the leadership of the GDC government, efforts to address the issue of deportation would be accompanied by dedicated work to enhance the lives of Gambians across various sectors. He instilled hope, saying, “The influence of the country’s politics is increasingly in the hands of women and youths, who are encountering numerous challenges. Our women are shouldering more strenuous responsibilities than ever before, and our youths are resorting to risky migration routes. He added that Gambians know the significant challenges burdening our nation, and GDC is poised to address these challenges if elected.