Africa-Press – Gambia. Ali Sylla, Liberia’s Ambassador to The Gambia and resident in Dakar, on Friday met with members of the Liberian community shortly after presenting his letter of credence to President Adama Barrow.
The meeting provided a platform for Liberians in The Gambia to raise concerns and submit a petition outlining key challenges they face.
The petition highlighted the following issues:
* Reduction of work and residential permit fees: The community requested a reduction in fees for work and residential permits in The Gambia.
* Decentralization of passport renewal process: The community asked for the passport renewal process to be decentralized, allowing Liberians to renew their passports in The Gambia or Senegal, rather than having to travel to Liberia.
* Repatriation of Liberians: The community requested assistance with repatriating Liberians who are struggling to survive in The Gambia and other countries.
* Legal representation: The community asked for a legal representative or annex to the embassy to protect the rights of Liberians in The Gambia.
* Health and welfare services: The community requested budget allocation for health and welfare services for Liberians in The Gambia.
* Yearly inter-community convention: The community suggested hosting a yearly inter-community convention to provide a platform for Liberians to learn new skills and share experiences.
In his response, Ambassador Sylla welcomed the concerns and assured the gathering that he would convey their petitions to the Liberian government. He emphasized the need for collaboration and highlighted the role of Honorary Consul Farimang Manneh as a key liaison for the community.
“The good thing we did as a government is to identify someone to represent us in the Gambia which is Honorary Consul Farimang Manneh,” he stated.
He urged the community to channel their concerns through Honorary Consul Farimang Manneh, who will coordinate directly with the Liberian Embassy in Dakar, stressing that “our relationship with The Gambia is growing stronger every day.”
Ambassador Sylla informed the gathering that the embassy had already begun addressing the issue of residential permits, describing it as their top priority.
He further challenged the Liberian community to establish a comprehensive database of Liberians living in The Gambia, noting that such a record is essential to facilitate the embassy’s work. The ambassador explained that the same system would apply to repatriation efforts, particularly for those wishing to return home after having sought refuge during the civil war.
“Then my job here is to inform the government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs but we have to have the evidence especially for those who are refugees,” he said.
On the issue of the welfare services, the ambassador said that is going to be difficult and they need to be realistic with one another. He noted to the citizens that they cannot stop anyone from migrating but when one migrates certain responsibilities is on them.
He added, “Think about people back home, all the things you listed here they don’t even have those things.”
He noted that some of the community’s concerns would require joint efforts to find practical solutions.
On training opportunities, the ambassador expressed agreement with their proposal and encouraged the community to take initiative. He explained that leadership could organize training programs and inform the embassy, which would then help engage relevant stakeholders.
Addressing passport renewals, Ambassador Sylla clarified that Liberians holding ECOWAS passports can complete the process online. Renewed passports, he added, may be collected at the embassy in Dakar or delivered directly to applicants. “I don’t know why this information did not reach you,” he remarked, assuring the community that the system is already in place.
The community noted that they were previously unaware of the information but welcomed the clarification.
Ambassador Sylla, meanwhile, reminded Liberians in The Gambia to respect the country’s laws and regulations.
“If you violate the law, the embassy or the honorary consul cannot do anything about that. Yes we can talk on humanitarian grounds on international law for fairness but in terms of the application of the law the embassy cannot do anything,” he stated.
Honorary Consul Farimang Manneh, for his part, thanked the government of Liberia for entrusting him with the responsibility and assured the community of his commitment to supporting their needs.
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