18 hrs ago
Gambia Trains Officials to Help Families Find Missing Migrants
The Gambia is training government workers to help find out what happened to people who went missing while migrating.
The training was organized by the government’s foreign affairs ministry and the International Organization for Migration.
It lasted three days, from 30 September to 2 October.
Twenty-three members of a national task force took part, along with diplomats working in six countries.
They learned about preventing people from going missing and how to search for and identify them.
They also discussed how to help families who are looking for answers.
At least 408 Gambians have been reported missing on migration routes since 2014.
The real number could be higher because some cases, especially at sea, are difficult to record.
The government hopes better cooperation will help families learn more about their loved ones.
The Gambia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the International Organization for Migration held a three-day training from 30 September to 2 October.
The training brought together 23 members of the National Task Force on Missing Migrants and Gambian diplomatic officials serving in six countries.
Participants discussed preventing migrant disappearances, searching for and identifying missing people, managing cases, and supporting families.
The IOM Missing Migrants Project records at least 408 Gambians missing along migration routes since 2014; the actual number may be higher.
The initiative aims to improve coordination between government institutions and help families get information about missing relatives.
- Who
- The Gambia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad; the International Organization for Migration; and 23 National Task Force on Missing Migrants members, alongside Gambian diplomatic officials.
- What
- A three-day training to strengthen the response to migrant deaths and disappearances and improve support for affected families.
- Where
- The Gambia; the article does not specify the training venue.
- When
- 30 September to 2 October; the article does not specify the year.
- Why
- To improve coordination, case follow-up, searches for missing migrants, and families’ access to information.
Government and IOM rationale
Challenges noted
Building a coordinated response
Government and IOM rationale
The government and IOM say clearer roles and stronger coordination can improve case follow-up and help families obtain information.
Challenges noted
The article notes that disappearances, particularly at sea, are difficult to document, so reported figures may understate the scale of the problem.
Key facts
- Reported missing
- At least 408 Gambians have gone missing along migration routes since 2014, according to the IOM Missing Migrants Project.
- Training duration
- Three days, from 30 September to 2 October.
- Task force participants
- 23 members of the National Task Force on Missing Migrants.
- Diplomatic officials
- Officials assisting Gambians in Spain, Italy, Greece, Malta, Morocco and Mauritania also participated.
- Key subjects
- Prevention, search and identification, case management, family support, migration risks and route-based responses.
- Incident cited
- The article says a Jinack maritime incident in December 2025 claimed more than 25 lives and left about 100 people missing.
- National body
- The National Task Force on Missing Migrants was established by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with IOM technical support.
Quotes
Ndumbeh Saho
Director of Diaspora and Migration at The Gambia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs
“Every missing migrant represents a human tragedy that extends beyond borders and deeply affects families and communities.”
wionews.com
Sources
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