ECOWAS Parliament Launches Citizen Engagement Campaign Against Irregular Migration In The Gambia, Senegal
0
The ECOWAS Parliament has launched a week-long citizen engagement campaign aimed at raising awareness about the dangers of irregular migration and modern slavery in The Gambia and Senegal.
The initiative, taking place under the Sixth Legislature, will run from July 6 to 10, 2026, in Banjul, The Gambia, before moving to Dakar, Senegal, from July 13 to 17, 2026.
According to the
Chief Communication Officer, ECOWAS Parliament, Uchenna Duru-Nwaotule, in a statement on Sunday, the campaign is designed to bring Members of the ECOWAS Parliament into direct interaction with young people, returnees, community leaders, civil society organisations and citizens to promote dialogue and develop practical recommendations for strengthening national and regional efforts to prevent irregular migration, protect vulnerable persons and support reintegration.
According to the Parliament, irregular migration remains one of the most pressing socio-economic and human security challenges confronting West Africa. It noted that unemployment, poverty, insecurity and the search for better economic opportunities continue to drive thousands of young people to embark on dangerous migration routes, exposing them to human trafficking, forced labour, sexual exploitation, debt bondage and other forms of modern slavery.
The campaign is being held under the slogan, “One Journey, Many Risks. Ask First, Move Safely.”
In The Gambia, activities began with a courtesy visit to the Minister of Interior and a stakeholders’ briefing involving the National Agency Against Trafficking in Persons (NAATIP), the ECOWAS Resident Representative, the Gambian delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Members of Parliament and other stakeholders.
The programme also features community town hall meetings in Bakau, Brikama and Barra, where participants will engage in local language sensitisation campaigns, hear testimonies from returnees and survivors, and participate in open discussions with lawmakers.
A community football event tagged “Football for Awareness” will also be held in Bakau on July 9 to further spread the campaign’s message through sports. The Gambian leg will conclude on July 10 with a debriefing session to review findings and consolidate recommendations.
The Senegal phase of the campaign will focus on public sensitisation and multi-stakeholder dialogue involving youth groups, students, community organisations, returnees and public institutions in accessible venues across Dakar. The detailed programme for the Senegal activities is expected to be announced separately.
The ECOWAS Parliament said both phases of the engagement will utilise open-air town halls, interactive discussions, question-and-answer sessions, as well as radio, television and community media outreach to ensure broad public participation and ownership of the campaign.
The ECOWAS Parliament is the representative assembly of the peoples of the Community and serves as a forum for dialogue, consultation and consensus among elected representatives from member states.
The Parliament comprises 97 seats allocated according to population, with Nigeria holding 35 seats, Ghana eight, Côte d’Ivoire seven, Guinea and Senegal six each, while Benin, Cabo Verde, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Togo have five seats each.
