The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, chose this Wednesday, in the port of Gambia, to “facilitate a safe, orderly and regular migration“which benefits both countries. In the presence of local Ministers of Defense and Interior, as well as patrol officers from the Civil Guard and the Spanish police, he described the country as a “key partner” in the fight against irregular migration and opted for cooperation with places of origin, transit and destination to address this “transnational challenge.”
In Banjul, the second stop on his African tour, Sánchez met with President Adama Barrow and signed an agreement “circular migration” to facilitate the arrival of seasonal workers in Spain and another to strengthen the already intense police cooperation. Both phenomena have occurred during the “significant increase” in the number of irregular migrants in recent months.
This migration crisis, which particularly affects the Canary Islands and Ceuta, partly explains why Sánchez visits different African countries. It is precisely Gambia, as well as Mauritania and Senegal, which have become important departure points for cayucos to our country.
In his speech, Sánchez reiterated the positive effects of this orderly migration and safe for both Spain and the countries of origin of these flows. This is what continues the circular migration initiative that Spain had concluded so far with seven countries and which, from this tour, will become nine after the addition of Mauritania and Gambia.
This migration is based on location originally to workers who travel to Spain for seasonal work and, once finished, return to their country in a legal and regulated manner. “Just like that [colaborando con los países de origen y tránsito] we will be able to face a transnational challenge such as migration.”
During this event, Sánchez conveyed a message of support to the members of the National Police and Civil Guard stationed in Banjul to collaborate in the fight against irregular migration and who, according to him, are “essential” in this task. Concretely, there are four members of the police who are part of a joint team with the EU and six civil guards from a semi-rigid boat and an all-terrain vehicle.
Thus, Sánchez assured them that he was aware that in recent times they were living “particularly complex situations” in migratory movements and to reiterate his congratulations for his “impeccable” work in saving lives at sea and stopping the mafias.
“Spain is a reliable partner for Gambia. We hope to continue our collaboration at the bilateral level, but also at the regional and multilateral level,” assured Sánchez.
