The Commissioner for Migration, Binta KJ. Barrow, has warned that the absence of a strong legal framework criminalising irregular migration is worsening The Gambia’s growing maritime migration crisis.
Speaking on Monday at a convergence organised by the National Disaster Management Agency and its partners, Commissioner Barrow said the lack of deterrent laws remains the biggest obstacle facing the Gambia Immigration Department as it grapples with a surge in dangerous sea departures.
The event, held at the Dental Council in Kanifing, brought together key stakeholders to discuss the humanitarian and security challenges linked to irregular migration.
According to Commissioner Barrow, The Gambia’s current legal environment is being exploited by migrants from the wider Sahel region who see the country as a safer launching point for journeys to the Canary Islands.
“The biggest challenge we are facing is the absence of a legal framework that will deter people from embarking on this perilous journey,” she told participants.
She contrasted The Gambia’s situation with that of neighboring Senegal, where stricter legislation and enforcement have been put in place to curb irregular migration. As a result, she said, migrants are diverting their routes to avoid tougher penalties elsewhere.
The Commissioner also highlighted the growing humanitarian burden on state institutions. She disclosed that the Immigration Department is currently overstretched, with more than 300 migrants under its care receiving psychosocial support and undergoing identification processes.
While acknowledging the support of the NDMA and other partners, Barrow cautioned that meeting basic needs is becoming increasingly difficult, particularly feeding, as the number of intercepted and rescued migrants continues to rise.
She renewed her call for urgent legislative reforms, stressing that without a clear and enforceable legal framework, efforts to address irregular maritime migration will remain limited and reactive rather than preventive.
