The ECOWAS Parliament has underscored the importance of grassroots engagement in developing effective regional policies to combat irregular migration and human trafficking across West Africa.
The parliament’s Director of Parliamentary Affairs, Dr Kabeer Garba, made the assertion on Tuesday during an ongoing delocalised meeting with communities in The Gambia aimed at addressing irregular migration and trafficking in persons.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the outreach programme, which began in Banjul, will continue in Dakar, Senegal, from July 13 to July 17.
Garba said direct engagement with local communities would provide regional lawmakers with first-hand information on the factors driving irregular migration across the sub-region.
According to him, insights gathered during the consultations will strengthen parliamentary advocacy and support the development of more responsive regional policies to combat human trafficking and modern slavery.
He expressed confidence that the engagement would produce practical recommendations to reinforce regional efforts against irregular migration and trafficking in persons.
Garba also commended The Gambia’s delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament for initiating the outreach programme.
The Fourth Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament and Head of The Gambia’s delegation, MP Billay Tunkara, said the initiative reflected the parliament’s commitment to engaging directly with communities affected by irregular migration rather than relying solely on legislative deliberations.
He noted that the programme complements the Gambian government’s efforts to address irregular migration, human trafficking and the socio-economic challenges confronting young people.
According to Tunkara, sustainable solutions can only be achieved through active participation by local communities.
Also speaking, the ECOWAS Resident Representative in The Gambia, Ms Miatta French, described irregular migration and human trafficking as transnational challenges requiring stronger cooperation among member states.
She called for sustained public awareness campaigns and coordinated regional action to protect vulnerable people from exploitation by trafficking networks.
Highlighting the scale of the challenge, the Gambia Immigration Department disclosed that migrant interceptions, voluntary returns from North Africa and deportations from Europe increased during the first half of 2026.
The department said The Gambia continues to serve as a country of origin, transit and destination along the Atlantic migration route, with women and children becoming increasingly vulnerable within mixed migration flows.
Similarly, the Gambian National Agency Against Trafficking in Persons warned of emerging forms of exploitation linked to irregular migration, including child labour, forced labour, sexual exploitation and online fraud.
The agency called for greater investment in prevention, victim protection, criminal investigations and cross-border cooperation to tackle the problem.
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) also reported that The Gambia is increasingly being used as a transit point along the West African Atlantic migration route.
According to the IOM, overcrowded boats, shifting coastal departure points and the growing involvement of women and children are among the major challenges confronting migration management in the region.
NAN reports that the meeting brought together ECOWAS lawmakers, government officials, development partners, youth organisations, returnees and community leaders to promote safer migration and strengthen the fight against human trafficking and modern slavery.
The outcome of the consultations is expected to contribute to safer migration pathways and stronger protection for vulnerable populations across West Africa.
