…as ECOWAS Hear Fresh Call for Tougher Action
By Gloria Ikibah
The human cost of irregular migration took centre stage in The Gambia, as the Chief Executive Officer of the Network of Reintegration and Irregular Migration Data (NRIMD), Baye Gassama, disclosed that 131 Gambians have died attempting dangerous migration journeys in 2026, with the sea remaining the deadliest route. 
Gassama disclosed this during an engagement between the ECOWAS Parliament and residents of Barra in the North Bank Region as part of the regional legislature’s citizen engagement programme on irregular migration and trafficking in persons.
Presenting the latest migration statistics, he said most of the recorded deaths occurred at sea.
He further revealed that four migrant boats have gone missing this year, leaving 245 Gambians unaccounted for.
According to the figures presented, 1,860 migrants reached Spain in 2026, including 743 Gambians.
Gassama also disclosed that 2,553 migrants were intercepted during the year, among them 574 Gambians, adding that 1,589 of those interceptions took place before the migrants embarked on their journeys.
Highlighting the challenges of reintegration, he said the North Bank Region recorded 246 migrant returnees in 2025, compared with 178 in 2024.
“According to the 2026 data, 131 Gambians died, comprising 117 at sea and 14 on land, and the sea remains the deadliest route.
“The increase from 178 in 2024 to 246 in 2025 indicates a 38 per cent rise in returnees, underlining the urgent need for reintegration support, livelihood programmes and psychosocial services to prevent re-migration and support sustainable community development,” he said.
He emphasised that comprehensive data collection and sustained reintegration initiatives remain essential in helping returnees rebuild their lives.
Gassama also drew attention to the closure of the migration resource centre in Barra, which he said had previously played a key role in educating communities about the dangers of irregular migration.
“When the project phased out, there were no more awareness-raising activities on irregular migration, which has led to an increase in the number of young people venturing on the backway journey,” he noted.
He explained that Lower Nuimi’s strategic location at the mouth of the River Gambia has continued to make it an attractive departure point for migrant smugglers.
Appealing to the National Youth Council, Gassama urged authorities to revive the centre, describing it as an important hub for public awareness campaigns, information sharing and youth activities.
Recalling a recent tragedy, he said many families were still searching for loved ones lost at sea.
He therefore called for stronger legislation to tackle migrant smuggling.
“In 2025, from November to December, there were boats that capsized around Jinack. We lost around 50 people and many of them are still missing.
“We need a strong law against smuggling so that those found smuggling migrants will face appropriate penalties, which are not currently in place,” he stated.
Gassama further urged the government to establish rehabilitation and vocational training centres to equip young people with skills and reduce the temptation to embark on dangerous migration routes.
The ECOWAS delegation also heard emotional testimonies from survivors of irregular migration.
One of them, Momodou Lamin Joof, told lawmakers that despite serving in the Gambia Navy for 11 years and attaining the rank of Lance Corporal, economic hardship and family pressure drove him to attempt the journey five times.
Describing the conditions he endured while detained during the journey, Joof painted a grim picture.
“It was because of the backway that I lost my job, as I was compelled by family pressure and the lack of job opportunities, especially for young people.
“We used the entrance of the prison to urinate because there were no toilet facilities, and the urine flowed back into the prison. When they locked the prison at 7 a.m., it remained closed until 7 a.m. the following day.
“They moved us to three different cells. The conditions were horrible and our suffering continued”, he stated.
Another survivor, Yamundaw Sarr, told the lawmakers she made three unsuccessful attempts to migrate irregularly.
She recalled severe hardship during the journey, including hunger and confinement.
“Getting food during the journey was almost impossible. They seized all our phones and locked us up from morning until evening,” she said.
Both survivors said they had received no meaningful assistance since returning to The Gambia and appealed for support to help them rebuild their lives through skills acquisition and income-generating opportunities.
Community leaders and residents who attended the engagement welcomed the ECOWAS Parliament’s visit and urged the Gambian government to invest more in youth empowerment, job creation and sustainable development initiatives, arguing that addressing unemployment and poverty remains the most effective way to reduce irregular migration.
