By: Joyce Gyekye
The huge coastal line of Senegal though a blessing to the economy due to its contribution to country’s gross domestic product in terms of fisheries resources, has become noted for illegal migration which has attracted global attention.
In the southern community of Kafuntine, the Mayor of the town, David Diatta said the geographic position of the area and lack of officers to patrol rivers make the community a fertile ground for illegal migration.
The mayor was engaged by a group of journalists from Ghana, Sierra Leone and Senegal during a field trip organised under a programme dubbed “Engaging Media and minorities to Act for Peacebuilding”, EMMP with funding from the European union.
The trip afforded journalists the opportunity to have a first-hand information about illegal migration from Senegal and how it is being addressed.
The Mayor of Kafountine, David Diatta said, with a population of 50 thousand, seven thousand of them are of other nationalities including, Ghanaians, Sierra Leoneans and Guineans.
He acknowledged the economic benefits of fishing as Kafountine contributes about 60 percent of Senegal’s overall fish consumption.
He mentioned tourism and agriculture as other economic activities contributing to the development of the area.
David Diatta said, the geographic location of the community with rivers and islands as well as its big coastal line, makes it conducive for illegal migrants to transmit to Europe under the pretense of being fishers.
He recounted the death of about 150 people last year due to over loading of a boat but that incident has not deterred the youth from embarking on such dangerous trips.
He mentioned an agricultural project in the often to address the issue.
A three-time returnee migrant who tried going to Spain but was sent back to Morocco, Boubacar Djatia said the journey was horrific ‘As we stayed in the forest for days without food and water and were pursued by police.”
As the Head of Communications for the Association of Senegalese Irregular Migrants, Boubacar Djatia said he he is “actively engaged in awareness creation in educating the youth against illegal migration.’’
He appealed for government support for returnees to get them integrated into the society by getting them stable jobs.
The anti-illegal migration activist welcomed the agricultural project announced by the mayor but said it is long overdue.
