By: Sering Mass Jallow
The Gambia Immigration Department (GID) on Monday inaugurated three modern border posts complexes at Giboro, Kerr Ali in Farafenni, and Amdalai.
The move was aimed at strengthening border management, immigration reforms and security along the Gambia–Senegal border.
The facilities, located at key crossing points in the West Coast and North Bank regions, were constructed by the GID in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), with US$2.2 million in funding provided by the Government of Japan.
The inauguration ceremony held at the newly completed GID complex in Giboro, brought together senior government officials, including the Minister of Interior, the Inspector General of Police, the Director General of Immigration, regional governors, as well as the Japanese Ambassador, the Senegalese Ambassador to The Gambia and development partners.
Speaking at the event, Director General of Immigration Ebrima Mboob described the project as timely, noting that infrastructural development and technological capacity were central to effective border management and migration governance. He says the new facilities go beyond physical structures, symbolizing progress in institutional reform, inter-agency cooperation and integrated border management.
“These facilities contribute significantly to the maintenance of peace, stability and security in The Gambia,” Mboob said.
Speaking on behalf of the donors, a representative of the Government of Japan highlighted the growing security challenges facing West Africa and the Sahel, including terrorism and transnational organized crime. He stressed that porous borders pose serious security risks by facilitating illicit trafficking, making effective and reliable border management essential for preventing illegal activities while supporting safe mobility and legitimate economic activities.
He reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to supporting Africa, citing The Gambia as a clear example of the partnership between the two countries.
