More than 130 Gambians have died attempting irregular migration journeys this year, with the Atlantic Ocean accounting for most of the fatalities, the ECOWAS Parliament has been told.
The grim statistics were presented by Chief Executive Officer of the Network of Reintegration and Irregular Migration Data (NRIMD), Baye Gassama, during a citizen engagement organised by the regional parliament in Barra, North Bank Region.
Gassama said 131 Gambians lost their lives on irregular migration routes in 2026, including 117 who drowned at sea and 14 who died on land.
He added that four migrant boats have disappeared this year, leaving 245 Gambians missing and feared dead.
The NRIMD chief said migration data showed that 1,860 migrants reached Spain in 2026, with Gambians accounting for 743 of the arrivals.
He also disclosed that authorities intercepted 2,553 migrants during attempted journeys, including 574 Gambians. Of those intercepted, 1,589 were stopped before they could depart.
Gassama said the North Bank Region recorded 246 migrant returnees in 2025, compared with 178 in 2024, representing a 38 per cent increase.
He stressed that the rising number of returnees highlights the need for expanded reintegration programmes, mental health support and sustainable livelihood opportunities to discourage repeat migration.
The migration expert warned that the closure of a migration resource centre in Barra had weakened awareness campaigns that previously discouraged young people from embarking on the dangerous "backway" route.
He called on the National Youth Council to help revive the centre and appealed for stricter legislation to combat migrant smuggling.
According to him, stronger penalties for traffickers and smugglers, alongside rehabilitation and vocational training centres for young people, would help reduce irregular migration.
The ECOWAS Parliament also heard moving accounts from survivors of the journey.
Former Gambia Navy officer Momodou Lamin Joof said he attempted the route five times after struggling with unemployment and family expectations, a decision that eventually cost him his military career.
He described harsh detention conditions, saying migrants were confined in overcrowded cells without adequate sanitation or basic human dignity.
Another returnee, Yamundaw Sarr, said she made three attempts to reach Europe through irregular routes, enduring hunger, detention and abuse during the journey.
Both survivors said they had received little or no support after returning to The Gambia, making it difficult to rebuild their lives.
Community leaders urged authorities to address the underlying causes of irregular migration by creating jobs, investing in youth empowerment programmes and expanding economic opportunities.
The engagement formed part of the ECOWAS Parliament's ongoing outreach to communities affected by irregular migration and human trafficking as it seeks policy recommendations to tackle the growing challenge across West Africa.