07/05/2026
Gambia Reaffirms Global Leadership on Safe Migration at IMRF 2026
BANJUL, 6th May 2026: A high-level delegation led by the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, Hon. Sering Modou Njie, presented The Gambia’s Voluntary Review Report on the implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) at the International Migration Review Forum (IMRF) in New York. The submission reaffirms the Government’s sustained commitment to advancing safe, orderly and regular migration, while addressing emerging challenges through inclusive and evidence-based policy approaches.
Recognised as a GCM Champion Country, The Gambia was among the 164 United Nations Member States that adopted the Global Compact for Migration on 19 December 2018. This milestone reaffirmed the country’s commitment to multilateral cooperation, the protection of human rights, and strengthened migration governance, while underscoring migration as a shared global responsibility and a key driver of sustainable development.
Since the adoption of the Compact, The Gambia has recorded notable progress across key priority areas. Significant achievements have been made in remittances, diaspora engagement, public awareness, border management, migrant protection, and return and reintegration. Improvements in remittance systems, supported by financial innovation, digital solutions, and strengthened reporting mechanisms, have enhanced the developmental impact of migration on households and the broader economy. Reintegration programmes continue to support returnees through livelihood assistance, skills development, and psychosocial services, contributing to sustainable reintegration at the community level.
Public awareness initiatives, led by government institutions and partners, have strengthened understanding of migration risks and opportunities, particularly among youth and high-migration communities. The Gambia has further demonstrated leadership by mainstreaming migration into the Recovery-Focused National Development Plan (2023–2027) and advancing the development of a National Migration Strategy, ensuring stronger alignment between migration governance and broader socio-economic priorities.
The active engagement of civil society, the private sector, the media, and diaspora actors has contributed to a more inclusive and participatory migration governance framework, enhancing outreach, service delivery, and innovation. Lessons learned from implementation continue to inform ongoing efforts, with emphasis on strengthening data systems, enhancing institutional coordination, expanding regular migration pathways, and building national capacities. Additional progress has been made in addressing trafficking in persons and the smuggling of migrants through improved border coordination, victim protection systems, institutional capacity-building, and ongoing legal reforms supported by national authorities and partners.
The preparation of the report followed a structured, consultative, and evidence-based process, grounded in a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach. The process was coordinated through the National Coordination Mechanism (NCM) on Migration, with technical support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Network on Migration in The Gambia.
To ensure inclusivity and broad national ownership, multi-stakeholder consultations were convened in March-April 2026. These consultations brought together representatives from government ministries, departments and agencies, United Nations entities, civil society organisations through TANGO, the media, academia, the private sector, trade unions, national human rights institutions, and organisations representing persons with disabilities, including the Gambia Federation of the Disabled (GFD). Regional consultations were also conducted across selected local government areas to capture sub-national perspectives, particularly on internal migration dynamics and community-level drivers.
On the margins of IMRF 2026, The Gambia co-chaired a high-level side event titled “Saving Lives and Missing Migrants: From Recommendations to Results,” held on Tuesday, 5 May. The event was co-organised with the Republic of Ecuador and the United Nations Network on Migration, in collaboration with key partners, including the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). In his intervention, the Honourable Minister emphasized that behind each statistic lies a human story, a life cut short and families left in uncertainty and grief. These tragedies, he stressed, are preventable and require urgent, collective action.
The Government of The Gambia reiterates its strong commitment to strengthening partnerships at national, regional, and global levels to ensure that migration remains safe, orderly, and beneficial for all. It will continue to work closely with all stakeholders to advance the objectives of the Global Compact for Migration and to harness the positive contributions of migration for national development.
By MoFA
