Africa-Press – Gambia. A prominent civil rights activist has sharply criticized the Gambian government’s handling of migration and youth employment after new data showed dozens of young Gambians disappearing in Spain while on a seasonal work program.
Madi Jobarteh, known for his outspoken advocacy on governance and human rights, said the latest episode underscores the desperation driving thousands of young people to seek better prospects abroad—often through the perilous “Backway” route to Europe.
“Ten thousand applied. Thirty-nine were selected. Thirty-three absconded in Spain. Meanwhile, more youths are going on the Backway, and more are dying,” Jobarteh wrote on his official Facebook page. “What does this tell the government?”
Jobarteh wrote on his official Facebook account, referencing the recent news that 33 Gambian migrants absconded in Spain after being among the 39 selected for a seasonal work program.
His comments came in response to reports that 33 of the 39 Gambians chosen for a Spanish seasonal labor scheme vanished upon arrival, presumably to remain in Europe illegally. The overwhelming number of applicants, he argued, reflects a stark lack of opportunities at home. “Yes, roads and buildings are important,” he wrote. “But how to make them create jobs, hope, and dignity is the issue.”
The figures reveal the scale of frustration among young Gambians, many of whom see irregular migration as their only viable path to economic security. That 33 participants opted to remain abroad rather than return home has reignited debate about the country’s development priorities.
Jobarteh’s remarks have drawn widespread attention online, fueling mounting calls for the government to invest more aggressively in job creation and long-term economic reforms aimed at addressing the root causes of migration.
As his statement continues to circulate, the government has yet to issue a formal response. But the growing public outcry reflects a deepening sentiment: that for many of The Gambia’s youth, hope and opportunity remain out of reach—and the consequences are increasingly deadly.
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