The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has launched a groundbreaking initiative in collaboration with the governments of The Gambia and Mauritania to strengthen their capacities to address migrant deaths and disappearances along routes connecting Africa and Europe. This pioneering effort, the first of its kind in West Africa, will utilize IOM’s extensive expertise in missing migrants data and migration management to enhance national coordination and deliver a comprehensive governmental response to this humanitarian challenge.
IOM Regional Director for West and Central Africa, Sylvia Ekra, emphasized that empowering national and local governments while bolstering cross-border cooperation can save lives and restore dignity to families awaiting news of their missing loved ones. She commended the leadership of The Gambia and Mauritania, noting that their example sets a new standard for coordinated national action on this complex issue.
Over the past decade, IOM has recorded staggering numbers of deaths and disappearances—over 30,000 in the Mediterranean, 5,000 along the Western African-Atlantic route to Spain, and nearly 6,000 in the Sahara Desert. Recent incidents, such as the August 2025 shipwreck off Nouakchott, Mauritania, which claimed at least 134 lives, underscore the urgency of addressing these ongoing tragedies.
Honorable Sering Modou Njie, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, affirmed that preventing the loss of migrant lives and ensuring that families receive closure remain top priorities for The Gambia. He highlighted that the initiative complements the government’s recent establishment of a National Task Force on Missing Migrants and efforts to enhance regional coordination.
Through this initiative, both The Gambia and Mauritania will develop coordinated systems to investigate cases of missing migrants, identify deceased individuals, and provide support to affected families. Tailored capacity-building workshops and mentorship will strengthen institutional and cross-border collaboration, enabling authorities to trace the missing, identify remains, and prevent further tragedies.
Fatma Mohamed Salem, Director of Borders, Refugee Migration, and Land Affairs in Mauritania, noted that the project aims to bring visibility to the lives lost on the Western African Atlantic maritime route, support grieving families, and advance preventive measures.
Addressing migrant deaths and disappearances is a pressing humanitarian concern. Strengthening national systems to manage migration safely promotes human dignity and reduces risks. By building institutional tools, technical capacity, and partnerships, governments can better fulfill their responsibilities and enhance stability for communities throughout the region.
The project will be implemented in coordination with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the Argentine Forensic Anthropology Team, and National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, focusing on forensic identification, family tracing, and psychosocial assistance. Funded by Switzerland’s Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), the initiative forms part of IOM’s broader efforts to move from data collection to tangible action, ensuring that affected families receive answers, support, and hope.
