The president of the government, Pedro Sanchez, has agreed with Gambia to promote circular migration “Facilitate safe, orderly and regular migration” that “benefit” both countries, as stated in an institutional statement in the African country where he is on an official visit. The agreement comes after a “significant increase” in the arrival of irregular migrants to Spain in recent months.
It has been in the First visit by a Spanish executive head to The GambiaWhere Sánchez arrived this Wednesday on his African tour, in order to increase cooperation to stop the arrival of irregular migrants to Spain, and which is taking place in the midst of a migration crisis in Spain, which particularly affects the Canary Islands, but also Ceuta.
Precisely Gambia, together with Mauritania and Senegal – the other two countries on the tour – have become important departure points for canoes in our country.
Currently, Spain has signed agreements for circular migration with Ecuador, Argentina, Uruguay, Colombia, Honduras, Senegal and Morocco. will be added now Gambia and Mauritania too, following the signing of two agreements during Sanchez’s African tour.
Thus, Sanchez ratifies What he already said when he spoke this Tuesday Benefits of Safe MigrationDespite criticism from the leader of the PP, Alberto Núñez Feijoo, who accused her of “encouraging the call effect” on her trip to Africa.
Praise the work of the Civil Guard and the National Police
During his institutional statement, Sánchez also took the opportunity to Praise the work done by the Civil Guard and National Police on immigration matters in The Gambia, Since they consider it “essential to avoid loss of human life and to achieve safe, orderly and regular management of the migration challenge.”
Specifically, from March 2021, Four National Police Officers They coordinate the COP-Gambia project in which the German Bundespolizei also participates as a partner.
on behalf of Civil Guardnear the armed establishment One liaison officer, three agents A Seahorse team composed of two Civil Guards for maritime and land technical assistance and under the project of the same name promoted by the European Union since 2006.
According to sources in Moncloa, all of them are providing training on how to deal with irregular immigration flows and fight against human trafficking organizations to members of the Gambian Immigration Department and other organizations such as the Gambian Police or the Gambian Prosecutor’s Office and the National Agency Against Human Trafficking.
On the other hand, Sánchez confirmed Spain’s willingness to strengthen bilateral relations in other areas such as trade, climate change, green energy, tourism and education. “Spain is a reliable partner for The Gambia. We hope to continue our cooperation at the bilateral level, but also at the regional and multilateral level,” he indicated.