There was a time, not so long ago, when Nicaragua, though far from being the star of the American continent, was on everyone’s lips. As in the days of the great rush to Spain via the Mediterranean Sea, this Latin American country was, and still is, the obligatory springboard to Uncle Sam’s territory. Today, however, there seems to be a lull in this journey undertaken by young Africans, including Senegalese. Nevertheless, some are still tempted by the adventure.

If some are able to identify Nicaragua on a world map, it is undoubtedly because of the role it has played as a springboard for those heading toward the United States. For several years now, this country, located in the heart of the American continent, has been a significant transit zone for people wishing to emigrate to Donald Trump’s territory.

Even though the average ticket (flight and a smuggler) is estimated at 8,000 dollars (4.8 million FCFA) for a journey that takes between a fortnight and a month, and sometimes longer, this risky package does not seem to deter travellers, who are driven solely by the quest for a much better future. While the classic route from Senegal or Mauritania to Morocco seems less complicated, the rest of the journey increases in difficulty, every step of the way. After this African passage, a transatlantic flight takes migrants to El Salvador, where a transit tax has been imposed since October 2023 (1,130 dollars). Despite these additional costs, travelers remain determined to reach their destination.

Next, they head for Nicaragua, where the smugglers charge them $150 to take them to Mexico. There, cartels control the passage to the US border, where the wall erected to counter this unprecedented surge barely deters them. Those who do make it to the United States are not out of the woods yet. Living illegally, migrants still have to try to escape the ever looming threat of deportation hanging over their heads. According to Jeune Afrique, ‘in December 2023, 5,000 Senegalese were living in a New York shelter’.

Constant stream of unfortunate events 

For a trip to Nicaragua, young people often turn to smugglers or facilitators. The role of the travel agencies handling the paperwork should not be overlooked either. Every candidate is expected to break open their piggy bank if they want to be part of the adventure, all the way to Nicaragua, the gateway to the USA.

What migrants undoubtedly know are the potential risks of the journey. Not many candidates reach their final destination. This is a typical example of a migrant whose journey comes to an abrupt end at the very first port of call. In Morocco, for example, it is often clear that this is some kind of trap. In the end, everyone discovers that they have been duped.

And off they go again, taking up residence right at the airport, thus prolonging their misery. From then on, the goal is to find their way back home. Some may think twice before attempting such an adventure, the risks of which are beyond their wildest imaginations. But for others, their minds are already set on how to accumulate as much savings as possible in preparation for the next attempt to reach the United States via Nicaragua. It’s a never-ending cycle. As the old saying goes, ‘What doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger’.

Jeune Afrique confirms

Studies have been conducted over the years to gain a clearer understanding of this ongoing traffic, which seemingly continues unabated. According to a report by Jeune Afrique, ‘60,000 Africans, including 1,526 Senegalese, crossed the border between 2022 and 2023.’

However, according to the same report by this media giant, once they arrive in the United States, Senegalese migrants have been placed in custody for violating migration laws since 2012. Additionally, ‘5,800 Senegalese were required to pay a $6,000 exit bond.’ Furthermore, the Jeune Afrique study reveals that ‘193 Senegalese have been deported home in 2023.’ Despite these numerous obstacles, would-be immigrants continue to demonstrate increasing determination to reach El Dorado and fulfill the famous ‘American Dream.’ Even as a Trump makes his return to the White House with a series of presidential decrees, particularly one targeting peace of mind to migrants.

According to Jeune Afrique‘s figures, Senegal, with 25,763 cases, is the African country with the highest number of cases awaiting processing, followed by Guinea (18,317 cases), Mauritania (17,309 cases), Nigeria (9,546 cases) and Angola (6,599 cases).

As we await more recent figures to assess the actual flow of people to the USA via this Central American country, it is almost unanimously agreed that people are still leaving their countries of origin. Are these numbers continuing to rise? Observation tends to provide a negative answer to this question. However, the phenomenon remains very much a reality.