Injured Gambians Stranded in Guinea After Being Denied Entry Into Senegal Following Fatal Crash

By Dawda Baldeh

Two Gambians seriously injured in a deadly road accident in Guinea are reportedly stranded there after Senegalese border authorities refused to allow them to enter Senegal and continue their journey home to The Gambia.

Muhammad Badjie, a Gambian truck apprentice, died in the accident in Guinea. Two other Gambians, Nuha Sanyang, 34, and Abdoulaye Tamba, 26, sustained serious injuries and are receiving treatment at a remote hospital near Koundara.

The family is trying to bring the injured men back to The Gambia for further medical treatment. Their journey requires them to pass through Senegal before reaching home.

Speaking exclusively to The Fatu Network from Koundara, Mass Sanyang, a resident of Kasa Kunda and brother of one of the injured men, said the family has been unable to continue the journey despite presenting medical, police and other supporting documents at the Senegalese border.

Sanyang travelled to Guinea on Saturday following the accident to assist the injured men and help repatriate Badjie’s body to The Gambia. He said being denied passage through Senegal has added to the family’s difficulties.

“It’s unfortunate that despite having the relevant hospital and police documents, the Senegalese border security denied us entry,” Sanyang said.

“This situation left us deeply frustrated and disappointed as we are mourning the death of a brother while others are in a critical condition with no proper medication.”

The Fatu Network has obtained emergency travel documents issued by The Gambia’s embassy in Guinea on August 17. The documents explain the circumstances of the victims and are accompanied by police and medical reports related to the accident.

Sanyang said the documents were presented at the border, but Senegalese authorities still refused to allow them to enter the country.

The refusal has left the two injured Gambians in Guinea and has also prevented the family from transporting Badjie’s body home to The Gambia, according to Sanyang.

“We are not asking for confrontation, we are asking for humanity, understanding and assistance for our injured brothers during this difficult time,” he said.

Sanyang appealed to the Gambian authorities to intervene urgently and help secure passage through Senegal so the injured men can return home for further treatment and Badjie’s body can be repatriated.

The Fatu Network has not independently verified the alleged refusal of entry. Senegalese border authorities have also not yet responded to the family’s claims.