131 Gambians Die on Irregular Migration Routes As ECOWAS Parliament Hears Calls For Stronger Action

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ABUJA – At least 131 Gambians have died attempting irregular migration journeys in 2026, with the Atlantic Ocean remaining the deadliest route, according to figures presented to the ECOWAS Parliament during a citizen engagement on migration and human trafficking.

Presenting data from the Network of Reintegration and Irregular Migration Data (NRIMD), its Chief Executive Officer, Baye Gassama, said 117 of the deaths occurred at sea, while 14 were recorded on land.

He told lawmakers that four migrant boats have disappeared this year, leaving 245 Gambians unaccounted for.

The engagement, held in Barra in The Gambia’s North Bank Region, formed part of the ECOWAS Parliament’s outreach programme aimed at addressing the growing challenge of irregular migration and trafficking in persons across West Africa, a statement said.

According to Gassama, 1,860 migrants arrived in Spain in 2026, including 743 Gambians, while 2,553 migrants were intercepted during attempted journeys. Of those intercepted, 574 were Gambians, with 1,589 stopped before departing.

He also highlighted a growing number of returning migrants, revealing that 246 returnees were recorded in the North Bank Region in 2025, compared with 178 in 2024, representing a 38 per cent increase.

The rise, he said, underscores the urgent need for stronger reintegration programmes, livelihood opportunities and psychosocial support to discourage returnees from embarking on another dangerous journey.

Gassama warned that the closure of a migration resource centre in Barra had created a gap in public awareness campaigns that previously discouraged young people from using the “backway” migration route.

He noted that the strategic location of Lower Nuimi at the mouth of the River Gambia continues to make it an attractive departure point for migrant smugglers.

Calling for tougher action, Gassama urged lawmakers to enact stronger legislation against migrant smuggling and establish rehabilitation and vocational training centres to provide viable alternatives for unemployed youth.
The meeting also featured emotional testimonies from survivors of irregular migration.

Former Gambia Navy officer Momodou Lamin Joof said family pressure and unemployment pushed him to attempt the journey five times, costing him his military career after 11 years of service.

He recounted harsh detention conditions during the journey, describing overcrowded prison cells without toilet facilities and prolonged confinement under degrading conditions.

Another survivor, Yamundaw Sarr, said she attempted the journey three times, recalling hunger, detention and the confiscation of migrants’ phones during the ordeal.
Both survivors said they had received no assistance after returning home, leaving them without the means to rebuild their lives.

Residents who participated in the dialogue called on the Gambian government to increase investment in youth employment, vocational training and entrepreneurship programmes, arguing that expanding economic opportunities remains the most effective way to curb irregular migration.

The engagement forms part of ongoing efforts by the ECOWAS Parliament to promote dialogue with communities most affected by irregular migration while encouraging member states to adopt policies that address both the humanitarian consequences and the root causes of the crisis.