Nicole de Moor, the Belgian Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration from the CD&V party, has signed a repatriation agreement with Senegal. The agreement,

focusing on voluntary return, highlights Senegal's commitment to supporting the reintegration of individuals upon their return to the country.

In recent years, returning individuals to Senegal has proven to be a challenging task, resulting in discussions within Europe about imposing visa sanctions on the country. The agreement between Belgium and Senegal also includes collaboration in the area of legal migration.

Presently, approximately 3,500 Senegalese individuals reside legally in Belgium. Both nations will work together to support pilot projects centered around circular migration. This concept involves migrants utilizing the skills and experience they have gained in their countries of origin. Earlier this year, a similar agreement was signed with Chad, and agreements were also established with the Republic of Congo, Liberia, and Suriname last year.

"Those who do not possess legal residence in our country cannot remain," states State Secretary de Moor. "I am fully committed to facilitating their return, preferably through voluntary means, but if necessary, through enforced measures. Consequently, I am actively striving to enhance cooperation with as many countries as possible. Alongside countries such as Morocco and Tunisia, I am also advocating for collaboration with nations that have smaller groups of undocumented residents. Failing to address repatriation in the countries of origin will only perpetuate the growth of this population."

In the previous year, 142 Senegalese individuals applied for asylum in Belgium, with four choosing to return voluntarily. The European Union received a total of 4,595 applications in 2022, the majority of which were determined not to require protection. Photo by J. Patrick Fischer, Wikimedia commons.