The EFF Gambia has strongly contested the Gambia Immigration Department's (GID) explanation for refusing entry to campaign technicians and vehicles engaged for the presidential campaign of Prince Ebrahim Sanyang. In comments published by The Standard on 26 October, Immigration Director General Ebrima Mboob insisted the decision was not political.
The EFF argues that Mboob's account is riddled with contradictions and fails to provide a lawful basis for the refusal. The party noted that the Director General claimed the passengers said they were joining another candidate's campaign. However, EFF disputes this, pointing out that the vehicles were clearly branded in EFF colours and carried the portrait of Prince Sanyang.
The Immigration Department suggested the Senegalese registration plates cast doubt on the vehicles' connection to Sanyang's campaign. EFF countered that ECOWAS-registered vehicles cross Gambian borders daily and pledged to produce documentation proving campaign ownership. The party further invited the Department to publish photographs and records taken at the border post.
The EFF criticized the reliance on "movement control" as justification, arguing that no published rule requires prior clearance for ECOWAS citizens on short technical assignments. The party asked the Department to identify the specific rule applied, where it is published, and since when it has been enforced. Prince Sanyang submitted a formal clearance request on 23 October.
The Acting Public Relations Officer of the Gambia Immigration Department (GID), Ansumana Cham, addressed concerns raised by EFF Gambia regarding the recent incident at the border involving Senegalese citizens. Cham explained that the matter was not politically motivated but rather stemmed from procedural requirements that were not fulfilled.
According to Cham, many members of the public remain unaware of immigration regulations, which often leads to complications at border crossings. He noted that the Senegalese nationals in question informed immigration officers that they were attending a political rally in The Gambia, which was corroborated by the presence of a public address system in one of their vehicles.
Cham reaffirmed the department's readiness to work with any group or entity, provided they meet the financial and administrative requirements at the border. The EFF linked the incident to broader complaints by opposition parties about restrictions on meetings and movements this month, warning that with the presidential election scheduled for 5 December, every decision affecting campaigns must be lawful, reasoned, and even-handed.
Key points
- The EFF and GID have differing accounts of the incident at the border involving Senegalese citizens and campaign equipment for Prince Ebrahim Sanyang's presidential campaign.
- The EFF argues that the GID's explanation for refusing entry is riddled with contradictions and lacks a lawful basis.
- The incident has raised concerns about the application of immigration regulations and potential political bias ahead of the presidential election.
