Applicants seeking passports at the Gambia Immigration Department on Wednesday voiced growing anger over what they describe as bribery, queue jumping and a system that favours those who can pay.
Many stood in long lines under tight conditions while accusing some officers of taking money to fast-track applicants. Fatou Sumareh, 32, who waited with her infant, said she was told to pay D500 or rely on personal connections to move ahead. “It feels like the system only works for those who can pay,” she said.
Lamin Camara, 27, said officers openly moved late arrivals ahead of those who had queued since dawn. “Almost half of them would be seen holding applicants’ documents, swapping applications or attending to late comers. They ignore people who came early. We just want the process to be fair,” he said.
A senior officer, who asked not to be named, admitted there is public frustration but insisted the department maintains a zero-tolerance approach to corruption. He pointed to staff shortages and outdated systems that slow down operations.
The same concerns played out at the Eco Bank branch in Banjul, where dozens of applicants waited for hours to pay passport fees. With only two or three tellers available, many stood in cramped areas with little shade. Several chairs were broken or insufficient for the crowd.
“I arrived at 6 a.m. My baby is crying and the line barely moved. The staff look swamped,” said 29-year-old Fatou Sowe as she held her application form. Others said they missed work and appointments because the queues moved so slowly.
“After three hours only a handful got served. They told us to come early but it’s the same every day,” said Musa Jallow, 34. He compared the situation to the Jammeh era, when passports were often issued within a day. “Now they ask you to come back in two weeks. Imagine your passport expires in November and you need to travel that same month. The government is losing money and people’s plans are disrupted.”
Applicants interviewed called on authorities to ease the delays, increase staffing and improve customer service at both the immigration office and the banks handling payments. Many said the current environment leaves ordinary Gambians feeling left behind while those with influence or cash move ahead.
