By Jane Salihu
The suspension of community awareness campaigns on irregular migration has contributed to a renewed rise in dangerous “backway” journeys by Gambian youths, members of the ECOWAS Parliament have been told during a citizen engagement in Barra, North Bank Region.
Stakeholders warned lawmakers that the closure of a migration resource centre, previously used to educate young people on the dangers of irregular migration, has left many communities without critical information and support, allowing migrant smugglers to regain influence.
Chief Executive Officer of the Network of Reintegration and Irregular Migration Data (NRIMD), Baye Gassama, said the development is unfolding against the backdrop of a worsening migration crisis that has already claimed 131 Gambian lives in 2026.
According to him, 117 of the victims died at sea while 14 lost their lives on land, making the Atlantic Ocean the deadliest migration route for Gambians.
Gassama also disclosed that four migrant boats have disappeared this year, with 245 Gambians still unaccounted for.
He explained that the migration resource centre in Barra had previously served as a hub for awareness campaigns, counselling, information sharing and youth engagement, helping to discourage many young people from embarking on dangerous migration journeys.
However, he said the project’s closure created a vacuum that has fuelled a resurgence in 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,” Gassama told the lawmakers.
He appealed to the National Youth Council and development partners to revive the centre, describing it as an effective tool for prevention rather than response.
Beyond awareness, Gassama urged governments across the ECOWAS region to strengthen laws against migrant smuggling, noting that existing penalties remain inadequate to deter criminal networks.
He also called for the establishment of rehabilitation centres, vocational training programmes and sustainable employment opportunities to address the root causes driving young people towards irregular migration.
Presenting migration statistics, Gassama revealed that 1,860 migrants reached Spain in 2026, including 743 Gambians, while 2,553 migrants were intercepted during attempted journeys, among them 574 Gambians. Of those interceptions, 1,589 occurred before departure.
He further noted that the North Bank Region recorded 246 migrant returnees in 2025, representing a 38 per cent increase over the 178 returnees documented in 2024.
According to him, the growing number of returnees underscores the urgent need for reintegration programmes, psychosocial support and livelihood initiatives to prevent repeat migration attempts.
The ECOWAS Parliament also heard emotional testimonies from survivors who described the harsh realities of the irregular migration route.
Former Gambian Navy officer, Momodou Lamin Joof, said he attempted the journey five times after family expectations and unemployment forced him to abandon his military career.
He recounted being detained in overcrowded prison cells without basic sanitation, describing the conditions as degrading and inhumane.
Another survivor, Yamundaw Sarr, who attempted the journey three times, narrated how migrants were deprived of food, had their phones confiscated and were held in confinement for long periods.
Both survivors told lawmakers they received no meaningful assistance after returning home, leaving many returnees vulnerable to poverty and the temptation to embark on the dangerous journey again.
Community leaders urged the ECOWAS Parliament and the Gambian government to prioritise youth empowerment, skills development and job creation, insisting that sustainable economic opportunities remain the most effective strategy for tackling irregular migration across the region.
