Repatriation agreement signed between Malta and Gambia

As Prime Minister Joseph Muscat attends the 69th United Nations General Assembly, Malta is holding a number of bilateral meetings in New York.

The first one, between the PM, Foreign Affairs George Vella and the Foreign Affairs Minister for Gambia, saw the signing of an agreement for the repatriation of some 80 migrants.

The migrants had their requests for asylum rejected by the Maltese authorities.

In a statement, the government said that the cooperation agreement was signed in respect of all human rights.

“Currently in Malta there are around 80 persons from Gambia who were not awarded the asylum status,” the government said.

In New York, the Prime Minister is also leading bilateral meetings with Commonwealth and African countries in preparation for next year’s Commonwealth summit which will be held in Malta.

Muscat held a meeting with Ghanaian President John Dramani where the two sides discussed Malta’s potential as an energy hub in the Mediterranean and Ghana’s potential as an energy hub in the West of Africa.

With Ghana having just discovered gas a few years ago, the two sides agreed there could be synergy between the two.

This is the second time in a year that the two leaders are meeting, following Ghana’s decision to open an embassy in Malta. The two countries are exploring ways how to work together.

In preparation for the Commonwealth summit, Malta wants to deliver the message that Europe can give hope, helping countries develop and reach their potential. This in turn would alleviate the pressure in the long-term pushing people to emigrate or enter illegal in European countries.

This message was positively welcomed by Kenya’s president Uhuru Kenyatta.