By Seedy Jobe
The Gambia Immigration Department on Saturday led an awareness campaign in the North Bank Region, bringing together local leaders, civil society groups, and students to confront what officials described as the growing risks of irregular migration.
The event, held in Essau in the Lower Niumi district, began with a march from Barra, where participants carried placards urging young people to abandon the so-called “backway”—the perilous, unauthorized routes to Europe—in favor of building their futures at home.
Speaking on behalf of the director general of the Immigration Department, Commissioner Famara Colley said the agency’s responsibilities extend beyond border control to include public education and prevention.
“It encompasses the duty to educate, inform, and intervene where necessary,” he said, warning that irregular migration routes expose travelers to exploitation, trafficking, harsh environmental conditions, and, in many cases, death.
Commissioner Colley said the department plans to expand its outreach through sustained awareness campaigns, working with community leaders, youth groups, and religious figures to counter misinformation and discourage risky journeys.
He emphasized that enforcement efforts would continue alongside humanitarian protections.
“We are enforcing laws that deter human trafficking and smuggling while treating migrants with dignity and respect,” he said. “We also provide support and protection for those who fall victim to exploitation or find themselves in life-threatening situations.”
He highlighted that safety and protection are not just the concern of the immigration department. “They are a shared responsibility involving every security force and the community at large. Synergy among security forces is crucial in preventing dangerous journeys and ensuring that Gambia makes informed decisions about its approach,” he said.
Mr. Colley added that addressing irregular migration requires coordination across institutions and communities. “Safety and protection are a shared responsibility,” he said. “No single institution can do it alone.”
The governor of the North Bank Region, Lamin Saidy, linked the campaign to recent tragedies that have affected families in the area, describing them as a stark warning.
“We don’t want to hear the word ‘backway,’” he said. “Too often, we are moving from one home to another, offering condolences because of lives lost on these dangerous journeys.”
Mr. Saidy praised the Immigration Department for organizing the campaign and called for more sustained public engagement.
“This should not be a one-off effort,” he said. “We need continued sensitization to protect our young people and our communities.”
The campaign is part of broader efforts by Gambian authorities to curb irregular migration by combining enforcement with community outreach, amid ongoing concerns over the number of young people attempting the journey abroad.
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