Questioned about discrepancies in the numbers provided by the Association of Students of Guinea-Bissau in Lisbon (AEGBL) and the official data from the Public Security Police (PSP), João Domingos da Cunha, coordinator of the Educational Policy department at AEGBL, told journalists that “there are 41 students halted at Lisbon airport” and mentioned they had access to the Portuguese police’s statement.
Domingos da Cunha noted that they have not been contacted by the Embassy of Guinea-Bissau in Portugal, but heard the Foreign Minister of Bissau, Carlos Pinto Pereira, mention 25 students — a figure he also disputes, asserting that the student association is present (at Lisbon airport) and in contact with the young people held up due to not possessing a document validating their means of subsistence, a document he emphasized, was not required from them in Guinea-Bissau.
The student representative assured that his colleagues are reporting they are enduring precarious conditions, neither eating nor sleeping well, information contradicted by the PSP’s statement which claims that “regarding the reception conditions, the PSP continuously ensured meals, hygiene facilities, and beds for the citizens remaining in the International Zone (ZI)”.
“Therefore, faced with this situation, we are here with some concern. And this concern led us to organize this demonstration to demand that our colleagues be allowed into Portugal,” he emphasized.
Domingos da Cunha stressed that the responsibility document is not difficult to procure, and the lawyers hired by the association are handling the case, but they are in the “phase of faith”, hoping that their colleagues will not be deported before Friday, the legal deadline given to present the required documentation upon arrival in Portugal.
The coordinator assured they are doing everything possible to “free their colleagues”.
“We believe our colleagues deserve strong legal support so they can be free. They are just students,” he lamented.
The Guinean students in higher education held at Humberto Delgado Airport were informed they have until next Friday to present the requested documentation after landing, or they will be repatriated, announced Eliseu Sambú, coordinator of the communication department at the Association of Students of Guinea-Bissau in Lisbon (AEGBL), who has been following these students since Thursday.
The Guinean citizens arrived in Portugal with a student visa, documentation issued by Portuguese authorities at the consular services in Guinea-Bissau, but were unable to enter Portugal as the immigration service at Lisbon airport requested additional documentation.
Eliseu Sambú explained that the students presented their passports and visas, and the services questioned them about the Portuguese public universities they intended to attend.
These students are enrolled in Portuguese higher education, with their names on the list of accepted students, according to him.
The group spokesperson stated that following this request, with the help of the student association, some of the students’ family members were contacted and went to the airport to present the document.
The PSP announced today that the refusal of entry into Portugal for the Guinean students at Lisbon airport was due to a lack of proof of their intent to study and means of subsistence.
In a note sent to the Lusa agency, this security force indicated it opened “34 cases of refusal of entry for foreign nationals from third countries, with one case being reviewed and the decision reversed”.
Lusa attempted unsuccessfully to contact the Integration, Migration, and Asylum Agency (AIMA), the Public Security Police (PSP) spokesperson, and the Ministry of Internal Administration, and is still awaiting information from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the matter. It was also not possible to contact the Ambassador of Guinea-Bissau in Portugal.
