Photo of migrants intercepted in Gambia: Courtesy of the Gambia Navy
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A new and alarming pattern of irregular migration is emerging in The Gambia, a small West African nation increasingly serving as a departure hub for migrants from across the sub-region.
This shift has been accompanied by a growing number of tragic deaths at sea and on land, plunging families and communities into grief.
Geographically surrounded by Senegal on all sides except its Atlantic coastline, The Gambia has become a strategic launching point for irregular migrants seeking to reach Europe through the perilous Atlantic route to Spain’s Canary Islands.
Migrants from neighbouring countries now converge along the Gambian coast to board wooden fishing boats for what is commonly referred to locally as a “seven-day journey to Spain.”
Growing Interceptions and Youth Migration
Every week, Gambian immigration officers and naval personnel continue to intercept boats carrying hundreds of migrants attempting the dangerous voyage.
Driven by unemployment, poverty, and the persistent belief that Europe offers a better life, many young Gambians are increasingly willing to take the risk of the journey.
Between July and August 2025 alone, the Gambia Immigration Department intercepted more than 5,000 migrants attempting to leave the country irregularly.
Several coastal departure points have been identified, including Tanji, The Gambia’s main fish landing site in the West Coast Region, as well as Barra and Jinack in the North Bank Region (NBR).
In recent months, Jinack, a small community, has emerged as a major hotspot, with dozens of boats reportedly departing from the area. Authorities and activists say most migrant smuggling networks operating in the country are now based there.
How Migrants Prepare for the Journey
Would-be migrants are typically mobilised by organised smuggling networks that operate in teams.
These agents charge between 50,000 and 90,000 Gambian dalasis (approximately $800 to $1,350) per person, and after paying, they are taken into remote areas where they await information about their departure.
“I paid sixty-five thousand dalasis (D65,000) to an agent in Jinack, but we never left after three attempts,” said Omar Cham, one of the migrants intercepted in October 2025.
According to migrants interviewed, smugglers usually provide basic supplies such as dry food, drinking water, and fuel sufficient for the estimated seven-day journey, while migrants are responsible for purchasing their own life jackets.
Speaking to our reporter, one of the migrants named Musa Baldeh, said, “Our boat was carrying more than 250 people. He added, “During our last attempt, the captains abandoned us at sea, and we were later intercepted in Senegal.”
Baldeh, who attempted the journey twice, shared a similar experience. “In August 2025, I paid fifty thousand dalasis (D50,000) to an agent in Tanji, but immigration officers intercepted us mid-sea,” he explained.
He said his second attempt was in Jinack, where he paid an additional D55,000. “After payment, the agent took me and over a hundred others to Jinack Island, where we waited for weeks. Eventually, the journey was cancelled after news of a deadly boat capsizing.”
Tragic Boat Incidents Shake the Nation
On November 17, 2025, a boat carrying 190 migrants, including 45 women and children, departed from Jinack Island and went missing.
The disappearance sent shockwaves across the country and left families desperately searching for answers.
Following weeks of intensive tracing efforts led by migration activist Ebrima Drammeh, inquiries were made with authorities and communities in Senegal, Mauritania, Morocco, Cape Verde, and the Canary Islands of Spain, including El Hierro, Las Palmas, and Tenerife. By late December, it was concluded that the boat had sunk, with no survivors.
Describing the incident as devastating, Drammeh warned against attempting the journey, particularly in the winter.
“The weather is extremely dangerous at this time. No one should risk their life by embarking on this journey now,” he told DUBAWA.
Tragedy struck again on New Year’s Eve when another boat carrying about 200 migrants departed Jinack and later capsized at sea. At least 39 bodies have been recovered, 112 migrants were rescued, some in critical condition, while over 50 remain missing.
Bar chart of migration data in 2025.
Government Response and Rising Death Toll
On Friday, January 2, 2026, President Adama Barrow addressed the nation, describing the incident as tragic and extending condolences to the victims’ families.
“My government will launch a comprehensive investigation into this matter, and those found wanting will be dealt with in accordance with the law,” President Barrow said, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to tackling irregular migration.
In a post on his verified Facebook account, President Barrow called for collective action to combat irregular migration and urged young people to embrace opportunities within the country.
He also called on parents to instil values such as hard work, patience, and resilience in their children, saying the country has made significant progress in overcoming harsh realities and development is steadily growing.
On Saturday, while addressing supporters at a rally in Mamuda in the West Coast Region, President Barrow said his government will take steps against migrant smugglers.
Data obtained by DUBAWA from migration activist Ebrima Drammeh reveal the staggering human cost of irregular migration.
In 2024 alone, at least 1,603 Gambian migrants reportedly lost their lives while attempting to reach Europe.
According to the data, 46 migrant boats have gone missing without a trace, carrying over 880 Gambians.
Additionally, 374 migrants are reported missing on land, bringing the total number of missing Gambian migrants to 1,254.
Despite ongoing tragedies, migrants continue to embark on the journey to Europe through the deadly Mediterranean Sea.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, January 5, 2026, Mr Drammeh revealed that from January to December 31st, 2025, over 893 Gambians died while attempting the journey.
He stated that these deaths were recorded among 26 missing boats that were carrying Gambians who departed from The Gambia, Senegal, Guinea Conakry, Mauritania, Morocco, Tunisia, and Libya.
Image of migration activist, Ebrima Drammeh in a press conference on 5th January 2026.
When questioned on the credibility of the data, Drammeh responded, “I am in constant contact with migrants and each boat that left the country, I know where it departed and the number of migrants it has,” he explained.
“I also work with others in different countries where we gather timely information about migrants. If a boat is missing, we have contacts to check, and if I tell you a boat has sunk, no doubt it has.”
As The Gambia grapples with this growing crisis, activists continue to call for stronger preventive measures, increased opportunities for youth employment, and sustained public awareness campaigns to curb irregular migration and prevent further loss of life.
