By: Fatou Krubally
At least 131 Gambian migrants have died between January and April 2026, according to migration situation reporter and activist Ebrima Drammeh, highlighting the continued dangers of the “backway” to Europe.
Of the total deaths recorded, 117 occurred at sea while 14 were reported on land, reflecting the high risks faced by migrants attempting the journey.
Drammeh’s data also points to a troubling number of disappearances. Four boats carrying Gambian migrants are reported missing without a trace.
According to the activist, one vessel departed Batokunku on 6 February with 160 people on board, while three others left Kartong and Tanji on 29 March, carrying a combined 580 passengers.
In total, 740 African migrants are believed to have died or gone missing at sea this year, with 254 of them identified as Gambians.
Despite the dangers, departures have continued. A total of 1,860 migrants who left The Gambia arrived in Spain, including 743 Gambians travelling on 13 different boats. Others used the North African route, with 173 Gambians reaching Italy from Libya and Tunisia aboard nine boats.
Interceptions have also increased. According to the data, 2,553 migrants linked to eight boats involving Gambians were intercepted across The Gambia, Senegal and Morocco, while security forces arrested 1,589 individuals before departure.
Returnees and deportations remain significant, with 574 Gambian migrants either deported or voluntarily returning home from countries including Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and parts of Europe. An additional 396 migrants returned to The Gambia on their own will from eight different countries.
The figures underline the scale of the migration crisis, as deaths, interceptions and returnees continue to shape the realities of irregular migration in 2026.