By Mama A. Touray

Libya migrant returnees recently at a press conference held at Touba Sanchaba urged the Government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to establish an embassy in Libya that will take charge of the affairs of Gambian citizens in Libya.

Speaking at the press conference Yahya Jambang, president of the Libya migrant returnees said “We took an oath before the Gambians in Libya saying that , if we return to Gambia we will engage the government to express the need for the creation of an embassy unit in Libya which Gambians .
He added that , this need is derived from the conditions some Gambians are facing in Libya.

“we have been hearing every time that Gambians are dying in Libya that is the reason we deem it necessary to advocate for the presence of Gambian diplomatic unit in Libya” he stated .

He further explained ,”if you escaped and your friend haven’t escape then it means you still haven’t escaped”
He added that, these returnees are integrated in the societies and the impact of Libya experience could turn them violence which may generate social problems such as banditry among others . He urged the government to consider the plight of the returnees by creating job opportunities through encouraging skills acquisition and entrepreneurship. He reiterated the significance of this press conference and he held confidence of government considering their need as returnees .

Zubir Fatty , public relations officer , for the Libya migrant returnees also narrated his ordeal in Libya , “I have been in prison for eight months and later three months , I experienced a lot and I know other people too who shared similar experience , perhaps more than what I have experienced but the problem is the people who stand for Gambians in Libya many of us are afraid to get to some of the prisons there because the prisons I was in no Gambian reached out to him there”

He added that , they formed this group to amplify the voice of the Gambians in Libya who might be going through difficult experiences in the hands of Libyans .

He suggested , The government to reciprocate the scheme in Mauritania “ I was in Mauritania before going to Libya but Gambia is having an embassy there and if the Mauritanian people keep you into captivity , they will give you a consular card and if you have that consular card the ambassador can enter any prison to let you out so we need that too in Libya so that Gambians there will not die in prison. So we want the government to support us and help train those without skills to be skillful so that they can help themselves and their families”
Meanwhile Muhammed Sanneh Adviser of the Libya migrant returnees who has been in Libya for a very long time and had children there said I want the youth returnees to engage the government and look for ways to establish an embassy in Libya that will stand for Gambians as I have been in this country and I know what we encounter be it my children, myself and others who came there.
He added that that what they want now is how can Gambians have an embassy in Libya that will stand for them as the sea has finished young Gambians imagine a boat that should carry a maximum of sixty people, if you put more than one hundred people how will that boat carry those hundred people safely, please we want the Gambia Government to stand in solidarity with us and help us.