Amath Sarr, one of the initiators and a founding member of the Visas for All platform, which advocates for visa reciprocity and a member of the Migration Development Network (Remidev), shares his views on the platform’s achievements and future prospects, as well as broader migration policy issues in Senegal.

Why was the Visa for All platform established?

The Visa for All platform originated from a 2023 Remidev initiative in support of fair and equitable visa procedures. Remidev is a civil society organisation comprising 37 member organisations that work on migration and development issues. However, Visa for All extends beyond Remidev, uniting a wider coalition of organisations dedicated to migration. As migration is a cross-cutting issue, involving a diverse range of stakeholders strengthens advocacy efforts for fairer and more accessible visa policies.

If you were to conduct a mid-term review, what would your assessment be?

If we were to carry out such a review, I would say that, since 2023, we have taken significant steps to make our voices heard and demand fairness and reciprocity in visa policies. This has included organising citizens’ marches and holding a series of workshops between 2023 and 2024. We plan to continue these actions through 2025. We believe that these initiatives are having an impact — notably, the Prime Minister addressed the issue of visas in his general policy statement, which gives us hope and reinforces our commitment to this cause.

What specific actions are you taking to achieve visa reciprocity?

As previously mentioned, we have organised multi-stakeholder meetings and peaceful citizens’ marches. In 2023, we sent an open letter to the government, and when the new administration arrived in 2024, we renewed this effort by sending them a similar letter. We also launched an online petition to gather public opinion and mobilise citizens around this issue, which affects us all. Additionally, we are using digital communication tools to amplify the voices of Senegalese citizens affected by the current visa situation.

“… we are not aware of any concrete action taken by the government to bring about meaningful change”

However, the current Prime Minister is raising the issue again today. What new developments, if any, could lead to this reciprocity?

The Prime Minister addressed this issue in his general policy statement, and based on the government’s previous actions, it is clear that they are increasingly aligning with our position. In fact, his words echoed the language of our letter almost exactly. This demonstrates that our message is being heard at the highest levels.

However, we are not yet aware of any concrete measures taken by the government to move towards true reciprocity. The process is ongoing. In this context, it is crucial to empower civil society, a vital pillar in driving this agenda forward.

Beyond the visa issue, social actors must be meaningfully involved in shaping broader migration policies. Their involvement is vital if we are to achieve long-term, sustainable change.

Do you think the new authorities are giving migration issues enough consideration?

In my opinion, the new government is not paying enough attention to migration. Their approach remains largely security-driven, with which we fundamentally disagree. Although there is an inter-ministerial committee on combating irregular migration attached to the Ministry of the Interior, it focuses primarily on security concerns.

We feel that migration is being managed, but not truly governed. When we speak of governance, we advocate a more holistic approach. Addressing migration effectively requires considering broader factors, such as employment and the employability of young people. Without addressing these root causes, a security-focused response alone will not suffice.

In addition to your commendable efforts to achieve visa reciprocity, what other steps are you taking to tackle the wider issue of migration?

We are actively engaged on several fronts to address migration more broadly. The Migration and Development Network (Remidev) collaborates closely with its member organisations, which are deeply embedded in local communities and spearhead grassroots initiatives. Remidev serves as a springboard, helping to amplify and coordinate these efforts. We also make a point of listening to a wide range of voices, including those of experts, returning migrants and local communities, because every perspective matters. Many impactful initiatives are already underway at the local level; however, their reach and effectiveness could be greatly enhanced with better access to communication and distribution channels.