Five Gambians Detained in Turkey

The Point, a private newspaper in the Gambia, has disclosed that five Gambians are among many migrants currently detained in Turkey for attempting to cross into Europe.

The majority of the other migrants detained in Turkey are from other parts of Africa and the Middle East.

Mamadou Tambadou, a successful businessman who spoke to the newspaper, said his cousin is among the detained migrants.

‘‘Unfortunately my cousin is among them… I personally offered him money to start a business in Dakar, work hard and make something for himself…but his only dream was to travel abroad’’.

Reports say the Gambian migrants were either intercepted or picked-up by security agents in various cities and towns across Turkey.

Over the past few years, thousands of migrants are known to have crossed into Europe via Turkey in order to escape war, political persecution, famine or economic hardship.

As a result, EU countries are struggling to process all the arrivals and to ensure that those fleeing genuine persecution receive asylum, while economic migrants are often sent back to their home countries.

The war in Syria and other conflicts within the region have also contributed to the mass movements of people.

Thousands of Senegambians are currently in Turkey and while the country has been generous to both refugees and migrants, the authorities are under intense pressure to deal with the influx of migrants.

Both Turkey and the EU are working to address the migrant issue, which has dominated political discourse and influenced election results in many European countries.

TMP – 28/05/2018