Disappointment is a commonplace in migration. Abdoulaye Baldé, 31, thought he would never be a victim when he wanted to continue his studies in sociology outside the Republic of Guinea. After his degree in 2017, one of his older brothers offered him to continue his studies in Algeria. Little did he know that he was going to be cheated by his brother, who had become a migrant smuggler on the Mediterranean coast.

It all started with an offer!  “My older brother, who has lived in Algeria for a long time, asked me to join him. I was a student at the time and I did not expect to live in hiding. With a light heart, I leave my country. But reality quickly caught up with me as soon as I left the Guinean territory,” says Abdoulaye Baldé.

Once arrived in Mali, a transit zone, the young thirty-year-old boarded a bus to Algeria. His older brother had already prepared the ground by connecting him with a smuggling network. He then crossed Mali passing through Timbuktu, Borges, before arriving in Algeria.  “I got discouraged from day one. I was sent to a foster home. I couldn’t believe it. And I wanted to go back to Guinea seeing the conditions in which I would have to live. It wasn’t my environment”, he says.

Unable to turn back, Abdoulaye Baldé was forced to adapt to the situation to survive. Like many migrants found on the spot, he threw himself into masonry. He began working on construction sites. This allowed him to earn 1,500 dinars per day (Editor’s note: about 95 thousand Guinean francs or 6000 CFA francs, a little less than 11 euros).

After a few weeks, an event disturbed their tranquility. In the middle of the night, an Algerian police force burst into their hostel, which is practically only for illegal migrants. To save himself, he says, he hid on the ceiling to escape the police, leaving behind his savings. Abdoulaye Baldé said that the police left taking away all his belongings, “his passport, his license diploma, plus 600 € and 18,000 dinars that he had as pocket money “.

Back to Guinea…

Disillusioned, Abdoulaye Baldé returns to his Guinea. “I was completely disappointed, because it was a waste of time for me. My brother deceived me by taking me into this path; while my ambition was to continue my studies legally in Algeria. My brother is the source of all my problems. I resent him for putting me in this scary and painful situation,” he fumes.

After his return to the Republic of Guinea, Abdoulaye Baldé says he had no problem reintegrating. “I surpassed myself by forgetting all the bad memories of my journey to Algeria and setting new goals,” he says.

If he was able to start from scratch it is because the young graduate in sociology says he kept before his departure for Algeria a sum of money worth 18 000 000 GNF (Editor’s note: A little more than 1 200 000 F CFA or about 2000 euros). This allowed him to launch his small business in the sale of telephone accessories, in downtown Labé, a region located in the north of the country.

Since then, Abdoulaye Baldé reassures that everything is fine and that he can make ends meet. “Everything is fine. I got married, I have a child, and I pay school fees for some of the children in my family,” he proudly says.

Forgetting the past to move forward

Despite his misadventure, Abdoulaye still wants to leave, but this time legally. “I intend to leave, but legally with my own funds. I never wanted illegal emigration. I found myself in this situation because a brother betrayed me and lied to me from the start,” he said. From now on, the former migrant is active in raising awareness among young people who want to engage in illegal migration. He makes sure they understand that they can do well in Guinea. “As long as young people put in their heads that it is absolutely necessary to leave their country to succeed, they will never achieve this goal. I call on them to be more visionary and motivated, because you can live at home and succeed. Even if it is necessary to migrate, it is better to do it responsibly and moderately,” says Mr. Baldé.