![Surviving migrants, from a boat lost at sea in July and found in Cape Verde with several survivors, arrive on the runway at the Dakar-Ouakam Air Base, in Dakar, Senegal on August 21, 2023 [Ngouda Dione/Reuters]](https://titapost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Senegal.jpg)
Senegal has significantly increased its efforts to crack down on refugee boats attempting to reach Europe, with its navy intercepting and rerouting vessels at record rates. While this has been praised by some as a model for other African countries to follow, others argue that it merely allows Europe to outsource its challenge of limiting refugee arrivals.
Senegal, a major departure point for migrants from Senegal, Gambia, and Mali, has seen a surge in the number of people attempting the dangerous journey across the Atlantic. In just one week in September, over 600 would-be refugees were turned back by the Senegalese navy. Since May, more than 1,500 people have been transferred to local authorities, accounting for over 95% of all recorded interceptions in 2022.
Experts suggest that other African countries, whose citizens make up half of the top 10 origin countries for irregular refugee arrivals in Europe, should take a strong interest in Senegal’s approach. Linda Adhiambo Oucho, director of the African Migration and Development Policy Centre, believes that African governments need to act and adopt a stronger regional approach to curbing irregular migration.
However, critics argue that simply stopping migration does not address the underlying causes that force people to move. They fear that initiatives like Senegal’s could become mechanisms for Europe to outsource its challenge of limiting refugee arrivals.
Italy, which has been overwhelmed by a surge in arrivals on its coasts, has declared a state of emergency after more than 5,000 people arrived on the island of Lampedusa in a single day. Flavio Di Giacomo, spokesperson for the International Organization for Migration, highlights the dangers faced by sub-Saharan African migrants fleeing Tunisia, including discrimination from smugglers and the use of fragile iron boats.
While the European Union has agreed on a common migration pact, experts argue that the focus should be on creating safe pathways for migration rather than solely relying on heavy border protection. Wendy Williams of the Africa Center for Strategic Studies suggests that countries should explore opportunities to create jobs and establish bilateral visa schemes to address migration more effectively.
There are concerns that Senegal’s efforts to stop refugees from leaving by boat could lead to the emergence of more dangerous routes as people smugglers adapt. Critics also question whether Senegal’s migration action plan, which aims to reduce migration by 2033, is merely a way for the EU to externalize its borders by paying African countries to do the policing.
Despite Senegal’s efforts, many continue to take the risk of making the dangerous journey. Just recently, a boat carrying 280 people arrived in the Canary Islands from Senegal. Experts argue that a holistic approach to migration is needed, where African countries act independently of the EU and focus on increasing legal pathways within Africa.
While migration remains a complex issue, some experts believe that African countries should work together to create opportunities and leverage each other’s talents. They argue that migration should not be seen as a bad thing, but rather as an opportunity for growth and development.