Africans in Germany. Yahya Sonko, a migration youth advocate and speaker for Gambians at the refugee council of Baden-Württemberg Region in Germany, has revealed that more than 400 Gambian youths were deported from Germany to Gambia between 2017 to 2022.
The activist called on the Gambian government to seriously focus on building the capacity of the youth and more specifically, returnees from the Diaspora.
As part of the preparation for the Upcoming National Youth Conference and Festival (NAYCONF) on 15th – 23rd December. The Gambia is on high gear for the event with the theme: The Role of Young People in the Maintenance of Peace and Security for the Socio – Economic Developments of the Country, Challenges and Opportunities.
Mr Sonko sent a letter to the Gambia Minister of Youth and Sports, Bakary Badjie, and Director of the National Youth Council, Alagie Jarjue, which has since been shared with AfroNews Germany (read below.
The letter reads:
“Dear Honorary Minister of Youth and Sports Bakary Badjie and Honorable Executive Director of the National Youth Council Alhagie Jarju,
Under the theme: The Role of Young People in the Maintenance of Peace and Security for the Socio-Economic Developments of the Country, Challenges and Opportunities, have your honourable offices been informed that more than 400 Gambian youth were deported from the year 2017 – 2022?
My dear leaders and comrades in youth development, are you aware that 90% of these forcefully returned deportees are not supported or given any reintegration support for the past years? This has been the biggest weakness, backwardness and security threat to our families, societies or communities as a country.
My able honourable youth leaders, I am sure you would agree with me that return migration is not always a process of simply GOING HOME. This is particularly evident in cases where the return is not fully on a voluntary basis as returnees end up facing severe obstacles. Return can only become sustainable when returnees are provided with possibilities to become re-embedded into society in terms of economic, social network, and in psycho-social dimensions.
Comrades and youth leaders, I hope this upcoming National Youth and Conference Festival (NAYCONF) will cater to these returnees and they will be informed of what the Government of The Gambia and stakeholders have for them in terms of sustainable reintegration in their various communities.
I will conclude by saying capacity building for stakeholders is enough, let’s seriously focus on building the capacity of youth especially returnees from the the Diaspora.”
OTHER ARTICLES ON YAHYA SONKO:
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