At least 59 Gambian migrants among 100 other migrants intercepted by Senegalese security have absconded, The Gambia’s ministry of foreign affairs said in a statement.

“The Senegalese authorities intercepted 100 Gambian migrants on a boat sailing across Senegalese territorial waters. Fifty-nine of the migrants absconded while the remaining 41 were processed by The Gambia High Commission in Dakar and safely reunited with their Gambian families on 4th July, 2023,” the ministry said.

This comes amid mass exodus of Gambian youths to Europe through the perilous “backway” journey across north Africa and the Mediterranean Sea in search of greener pasture.

Reporting by  Adama Makasuba