By Ridhwana Sinayoko
A high-powered delegation from the Republic of South Africa and the Kingdom of Lesotho on Tuesday, June 10th, 2025, visited The Gambia’s Office of National Security (ONS). The Joint Task Team (JTT) was led by Livhuwani Tommy Makhhode, Director General of the Department of Home Affairs of South Africa, and Mantseba Florina, Director of Immigration, Kingdom of Lesotho. The visit was part of a series of engagements held with relevant stakeholders in The Gambia around border security management and migration.
The Joint Task Force from the two Southern African nations chose The Gambia as a case study due to its geographical location – being surrounded by a much larger neighbour in Senegal - much the same as the Kingdom of Lesotho, which is surrounded by the Republic of South Africa. The Joint Task Team’s mission is to investigate the bilateral cooperation between The Gambia and Senegal as it relates to the Integrated Border Management Strategies, legal and policy frameworks established to promote good neighborliness, peaceful co-existence and the ECOWAS Protocols on the Free Movement of Goods and People.
The National Security Adviser (NSA) Abubakarr S. Jeng, warmly welcomed the delegation to ONS and expressed his appreciation for receiving the JTT. He made a presentation in which he highlighted The Gambia’s unique geographic position and the shared history with neighbouring Senegal, while emphasising the strong bilateral cooperation between the two countries. He noted the establishment of the Senegalo-Gambian Permanent Secretariat and the Joint Border Management Committees as key achievements in the coordinated migration and security management.
NSA Jeng outlined The Gambia’s legal and institutional framework on migration, citing instruments such as the Immigration Act (1965), Criminal Code (1933), and the Anti-Trafficking Law, with ongoing work on legislation concerning smuggling of migrants.
The Southern African delegation, impressed by the structures in place, inquired about The Gambia’s National Coordination Model, budget-sharing with Senegal in the Senegalo-Gambian Permanent Secretariat and mechanisms for addressing cross-border crimes. Particular interest expressed in The Gambia’s approach to border demarcation and local-level cooperation, acknowledging the challenges associated with being surrounded by a much larger neighbor.
In response, NSA Jeng highlighted the success of the 5km Joint Hot Pursuit Agreement and the role of Interpol, bilateral security committees, and judiciary cooperation between The Gambia and Senegal in managing cross-border criminality. He noted that border crimes like theft are handled based on jurisdiction but often involves real-time coordination between the two countries.
NSA Jeng informed the JTT that both The Gambia and Senegal contribute equally to the operations of the Senegalo-Gambia Permanent Secretariat. NSA Jeng acknowledged the existence of funding constraints in The Gambia, but was quick to suggest to the JTT to consider taking a leaf from The Gambia’s own much heralded Alternative Sources of Funding initiative. The success of the Integrated Border Management between The Gambia and Senegal, he further pointed, is a result of the commitment of both heads of state, the mutual trust that exists between them, as well as their political will.
The visit concluded with a reaffirmation of regional collaboration. On behalf of President Adama Barrow and the Gambian people, Mr. Jeng thanked the delegates and welcomed them to the Smiling Coast of Africa.
