Population figures
Total country population
2,841,804
Forcibly displaced population
Refugees (under UNHCR's mandate):
3,890
Asylum-seekers:
414
IDPs (of concern to UNHCR):
0
Other people in need of international protection:
0
Other
Statelessness persons
0
Host community
0
Others of concern to UNHCR
0
Country context
Gambia is a West African country bordered by Senegal on three sides and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. Its geographic position situates it within a region experiencing significant cross-border displacement and mobility.
Gambia has established a legal framework to address the needs of refugees and asylum-seekers. The Refugee Act, enacted in 2008, provides for the establishment of the Gambia Refugee Commission, which is responsible for coordinating refugee affairs. The Act recognizes the specific challenges faced by refugees in Africa, such as such as mass influx situations where large groups may be displaced across borders due to conflict or generalized violence. In these contexts, the Act includes provisions for prima facie recognition of refugee status for certain groups, as well as the possibility of obtaining refugee status based on familial ties to recognized refugees.
...Gambia has expressed intentions to accede to the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons and the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. Gambia has engaged in regional initiatives to integrate forcibly displaced and stateless individuals into national digital identity systems, facilitating their access to essential services and legal recognition. These measures align with broader objectives to ensure that all individuals have recognized legal identities, thereby reducing vulnerabilities associated with statelessness.
In terms of internally displaced persons (IDPs), Gambia has ratified the African Union's Kampala Convention, which provides a comprehensive legal framework for the protection and assistance of IDPs. This ratification signifies a commitment to addressing internal displacement through legal and policy measures, although specific national legislation and implementation strategies may still be under development.
Gambia’s legal and policy framework reflects a commitment to the protection of refugees, stateless persons, and internally displaced populations through alignment with regional and international instruments. However, continued efforts are required to ensure that these populations are effectively included in national development planning, particularly with regard to access to basic services and sustainable livelihood opportunities.
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