The ECOWAS Parliament has launched a regional citizen engagement campaign aimed at raising awareness about the dangers of irregular migration and modern slavery in The Gambia and Senegal.
The initiative, taking place under the Sixth Legislature, will run from July 6 to 10 in Banjul, The Gambia, before moving to Dakar, Senegal, from July 13 to 17, 2026. It is being held under the theme, “One Journey, Many Risks. Ask First, Move Safely.”
The campaign is designed to connect Members of the ECOWAS Parliament directly with young people, returnees, community leaders, civil society organisations and residents to discuss the growing challenges associated with irregular migration.
According to the Parliament, irregular migration continues to pose serious socio-economic and security concerns across West Africa. Factors such as unemployment, poverty, insecurity and limited economic opportunities have pushed many young people to undertake dangerous land and sea journeys, leaving them vulnerable to human trafficking, forced labour, sexual exploitation, debt bondage and other forms of modern slavery.
The Gambia and Senegal remain among the ECOWAS member states significantly affected, serving as countries of origin, transit and return for migrants.
The engagement seeks to educate vulnerable communities about the risks involved in irregular migration while giving lawmakers firsthand insight into its root causes and consequences. It also aims to strengthen dialogue between citizens and parliamentarians and develop practical recommendations to improve prevention, protection and reintegration efforts across the region.
Activities in The Gambia will begin with a courtesy visit to the Minister of Interior, followed by stakeholder meetings involving the ECOWAS Resident Representative, the country’s delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the National Agency Against Trafficking in Persons (NAATIP).
The programme also includes community town hall meetings in Bakau, Brikama and Barra, where participants will engage in local-language awareness sessions, hear testimonies from returnees and survivors, and interact directly with Members of Parliament.
A football awareness event tagged “Football for Awareness” will also be held in Bakau on July 9 to spread the campaign’s message through sports. The Gambian phase will conclude with a debriefing session on July 10 to review findings and outline recommendations.
The Senegal phase, scheduled for July 13 to 17, will focus on public awareness and dialogue involving students, youth groups, returnees, community organisations and public institutions in Dakar and surrounding communities. A detailed programme for the Senegal activities will be released ahead of the event.
Throughout the campaign, organisers will utilise open-air town halls, interactive discussions, question-and-answer sessions, as well as radio, television and community media platforms to encourage broad public participation and engagement.