By: Kebba Ansu Manneh
In a heartfelt appeal echoing decades of displacement, the Liberian community in The Gambia has urged newly accredited Ambassador Ali Sylla to champion urgent reforms on residential permit costs and facilitate the repatriation of long-term refugees. The plea, formalized in a petition presented during a town hall meeting on Friday, September 12, at a Banjul hotel, underscores the enduring challenges faced by thousands of Liberians who fled their homeland’s civil wars in the 1990s and early 2000s.
The event doubled as the official unveiling of Farimang Manneh as Liberia’s Honorary Consul to The Gambia, a strategic appointment to bolster consular services for the diaspora. It followed Ambassador Sylla’s presentation of credentials to President Adama Barrow at State House earlier that day, marking a milestone in Liberia-Gambia diplomatic ties.
Sylla, resident in Dakar with accreditation to The Gambia, Cape Verde, and Mauritania, brings a wealth of experience from his prior role as Head of Mission in Qatar and advanced degrees in criminal justice and international relations. His nomination by President Joseph Boakai in late 2024 reflects Liberia’s push to strengthen regional engagement.
Tony Miguel, an advisor to the Liberian Community in Gambia, delivered the petition, spotlighting the prohibitive D3,500 fee for Type C residential permits. This financial burden often spirals into legal troubles, including police detentions. “Many Liberians find it very difficult to afford this, landing them in trouble with authorities,” Miguel said, drawing parallels to recent reductions for Guineans, whose fees dropped to D750 via reciprocal agreements announced in July 2025.
He implored Sylla to lobby Gambian counterparts for similar parity, arguing that diplomatic channels could mirror the exemptions already granted to nationals from Senegal, Mali, Mauritania, and Guinea under ECOWAS protocols. The petition extended beyond fees, calling for repatriation support for elderly refugees who have resided in The Gambia since the outbreak of the Liberian Civil War in 1989. Miguel advocated for decentralized passport renewals, legal aid funding, enhanced healthcare access, welfare programs, annual inter-community conventions, and skills training initiatives. “These measures would empower our vulnerable citizens and foster self-reliance,” he emphasized, highlighting the community’s contributions to Gambian society through education, business, and cultural exchanges.
Ambassador Sylla responded with measured optimism, reaffirming Liberia’s dedication to its diaspora. “Plans are underway to negotiate permit fee reductions through standard diplomatic channels,” he assured, pledging to relay instructions from Monrovia authorizing Consul Manneh to initiate talks with Gambian officials. On repatriation, Sylla stressed a case-by-case review in partnership with the consul’s office and community leaders, contingent on documentation and demonstrated need. He also proposed compiling a comprehensive database of Liberians in The Gambia to streamline eligibility for waivers and support, urging immediate registration with community leadership for better advocacy.
Manneh, a Gambian national of Liberian descent and prominent businessman, expressed profound gratitude for his appointment. “Out of over two million Gambians, I’ve been chosen by Liberia to serve as your brother, father, friend, and representative,” he declared, vowing an open-door policy focused on welfare. He committed to coordinating with the Liberian Embassy in Dakar while advising the community to uphold the law, avoid crime, and prioritize employment. “This office will be accessible to all, ensuring your interests are safeguarded,” Manneh added.
Madam Khadijatou Camara, Chairperson of the Liberian Community in The Gambia, hailed the gathering as “historic and timely,” celebrating the reinforcements to consular support amid evolving regional dynamics. The event, attended by over 100 diaspora members, featured cultural performances blending Liberian and Gambian rhythms, symbolizing unbreakable bonds forged in adversity.
This advocacy arrives against a backdrop of strengthened bilateral relations. Sylla’s recent courtesy calls, including to Gambia’s Foreign Affairs Minister, have highlighted historical solidarity – from Gambia’s ECOWAS-led role in Liberia’s peace process under Sir Dawda Jawara to the vibrant cross-border communities. With ECOWAS emphasizing mobility and reciprocity, the Liberian push could catalyze broader reforms, easing the plight of an estimated 5,000-10,000 Liberians in The Gambia.
