The Gambia Immigration Department (GID), led by its new director general Bai Ebrima Mboob, will host the country’s first sub-regional conference of Heads of Immigration in Banjul. The event, scheduled for September 23-24, 2024, will bring together 12 immigration heads from across the region.
The forum aims to address challenges related to mobility and migration, with a focus on collective solutions. This year’s theme is “Accelerating the Development of ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Cards and the Abolition of the 90-day Stay Limits.”
Director General Mboob highlighted the importance of the conference, noting it is the first time The Gambia will host this ECOWAS event. He thanked President Adama Barrow and other stakeholders for their support in organizing the gathering.
Mboob also recalled the 2011 ECOWAS agreement on biometric national identity cards, emphasizing The Gambia’s commitment to security and documentation across the region. Since then, many countries have been establishing biometric centers to prioritize this initiative.
He further stressed the importance of these identity documents for enhancing security and combating challenges such as smuggling, human trafficking, and organized crime. The forum will also discuss immigration issues related to entry and residence within ECOWAS member states.
Mboob concluded by urging for stronger unity within Africa, noting that borders should not hinder the continent’s cohesion.
