Africa-Press – Gambia. Between November 4 and 25, 2025, a total of 1,960 Gambians embarked on the perilous “Backway” journey toward the Canary Islands, migrant advocates reported, marking what they describe as the largest maritime exodus of irregular migrants in the country’s history.
According to Adrian Corish, founder of the African Migration Advisory Center (AMAC), and Ebrima Drammeh, widely known as “Migrants Situation,” the departures included 1,560 men, 224 women, 126 minors, and seven infants. At least 24 individuals are reported to have died at sea.
“In just 21 days, 1,960 Gambians left the country on irregular migration boats,” the advocates said in a joint statement. “This is not migration. This is not travel. This is not adventure. This is a humanitarian emergency.”
The statement drew a stark comparison, warning that the scale of the departures is equivalent to an entire village disappearing from the nation.
“Imagine waking up tomorrow, and your entire village is silent. No children playing. No women cooking. No boys at the football field. No elders giving advice. No one left. Just emptiness. That is what is happening right now,” the report said.
Among the deceased was a mother traveling with her two children, who are now reportedly in a European detention facility, separated from family and traumatized by the loss of their mother.
The advocacy groups questioned the desperation driving Gambians, including mothers with young children, to risk such a perilous journey. “This is our last warning. If we continue like this, the next village to disappear might be yours,” the statement concluded.
The surge highlights ongoing economic hardship and insecurity in The Gambia, underscoring the urgent need for interventions to address the root causes of irregular migration.
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