By Sheriff Hydara
Jinak, a coastal settlement in The Gambia’s Niumi area, North Bank Region, has become a major hub for irregular migration to Europe, locally known as the “backway”, reliable sources told this medium on Friday.
The increase in departures has raised concerns over youth unemployment, organised smuggling networks, and the loss of young lives along dangerous land and sea routes.
The “backway” refers to irregular routes used by West African migrants seeking Europe without valid travel documents. From Jinak, migrants are reportedly transported through Senegal to North Africa or Atlantic coastal points, where overcrowded boats attempt the perilous crossing to Spain’s Canary Islands.
Rise in Departures
Residents report a sharp increase in departures in recent months, with families selling farmland, fishing gear, and livestock to fund journeys costing millions of dalasis per person.
“We are losing our strongest youth,” a local elder said Friday.
“Almost every week, someone leaves. Some make it, many do not, and others die on the way.”
Authorities confirm that Jinak has become a recruitment and transit point for smugglers who exploit unemployed youth with promises of safe passage and employment abroad.
Smuggling Networks Exploit Vulnerability
Security officials said organised networks operate mainly at night to avoid checkpoints, moving migrants between handlers across borders.
“These networks are sophisticated and difficult to dismantle,” a security source said. “They rely on secrecy, community trust, and the desperation of young people.”
Migrants face dehydration in the Sahara, detention and abuse in transit countries, and deadly sea crossings. Boats often capsize or disappear, leaving families uncertain about their relatives’ fate.
Economic Hardship Drives Migration
Experts cite unemployment, poverty, and limited access to education and vocational training as key drivers of irregular departures. Despite awareness campaigns and testimonies from returned migrants, departures continue.
“When people see money coming from Europe, hope is renewed,” a youth leader said. “The dangers are known, but hunger is stronger.”
Calls for Action
Community leaders and civil society groups are urging government intervention to address the root causes of irregular migration. Proposed measures include job creation, vocational training, small business financing, and stricter action against human trafficking.
“There must be opportunities at home,” a community representative said. “Otherwise, the backway will continue to claim our children.”
As Jinak grapples with the growing impact of irregular migration, families remain caught between fear for their loved ones and hope for meaningful change that could offer youth safer, viable futures.
