By Fatou Krubally
The Gambia is facing a growing crisis of young people desperate to leave the country but unable to do so, a situation migration expert, Muhammed Lamin Dibba describes as “involuntary immobility.”
Speaking from his experience as a migration specialist and AI policy negotiator based in Switzerland, Dibba warns that this challenge is fuelling youth unemployment and social unrest across the country.
“The shattered aspiration to migrate for a better life has given rise to a wave of social vices such as theft, murder, and suicide,” Dibba said. He explains that many young Gambians dream of traveling to Europe to improve their livelihoods but are blocked by financial hardships, lack of education, and limited job opportunities at home.
According to Dibba, this gap between desire and reality leaves many youths frustrated and vulnerable, pushing some to risk dangerous journeys across the Sahara Desert or the Mediterranean Sea. For others, the failure to migrate leads to a sense of hopelessness that can trigger anti-social behaviour.
He says Brikama, in the West Coast Region, illustrates the depth of the problem. The area accounts for nearly half of the working-age population, yet over 21percent of its youth are unemployed. “The same region also records the highest number of migrants, both regular and irregular,” he noted.
Dibba highlights several root causes of the crisis, including skills mismatch between young people’s education and the needs of the labour market. He also points to out-dated school curricula, poor links between education and industry, and corruption that diverts development resources away from youth empowerment programs.
To address the issue, Dibba urges the Gambian government and partners to focus on early education reforms, vocational training, and entrepreneurship support. He also calls for stronger mentorship and financial access programs to help young people build viable futures at home.
“If we do not act now, the Gambian youth migration challenge will continue to undermine the country’s social and economic progress,” Dibba concluded.