During a meeting with residents of Thiaroye-sur-Mer, a coastal village in the outskirts of Dakar, Senegal, about the risks of irregular migration and human trafficking, Senegalese MP and member of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, Guy Marius Sagna, stressed the need to go beyond mere awareness-raising. He called for practical funding for young people and asked for clarity on visa management and the circular migration program.
Beyond Awareness: The Urgent Need for Concrete Action
Given the magnitude of the migration crisis in West Africa, empty rhetoric is no longer enough. MP Guy Marius Sagna made the observation at the end of a parliamentary dialogue with locals in Thiaroye-sur-Mer, a village that has been hit hard by the issue. According to Mr. Sagna, tackling illegal emigration now requires a paradigm shift towards local socio-economic development.
“For twenty years, local communities have been raising awareness. We’re not saying they should stop, but other concrete actions are needed to bolster these efforts” the Senegalese MP said, adding he has ‘carefully listened to the concerns of local residents, who have been suffering for many years from the human, social and economic impacts of this crisis.’‘The discussions shed light on the many issues driving irregular departures, including youth unemployment, limited access to finance and the economic insecurity of certain social groups. “
Youth Funding: Addressing the Collateral Bottle Neck
Guy Marius Sagna emphasises the need to create local economic opportunities, particularly for the most disadvantaged groups in order to curb high-risk departures,
For him, access to loans and seed capital continues to be the biggest obstacle for young people from low-income backgrounds who lack the required bank guarantees.
“People are asking for more resources to set up income-generating activities and offer local prospects to young people,” Mr. Sagna said, adding that in order to turn these claims into policy decisions, he will engage all the institutional levers at his disposal, at both national and regional levels.
“These concerns will be raised through parliamentary oversight mechanisms, notably written questions, fact-finding missions and hearings with government officials in the National Assembly” he promised.
According to the MP, the effectiveness of public policies will depend on their ability to directly incorporate the expectations of communities on the ground.
Transparency and Equity in the Management of Legal Migration
In addition to economic support, the issue of access to legal mobility opportunities was hotly debated. Many citizens have raised questions about the criteria for awarding visas and circular migration programmes, prompting the MP to demand greater clarity from the authorities.
“The issue of the governance of visas and circular migration quotas was raised by several participants. We cannot say that these mechanisms are poorly managed, but we will challenge the government to understand how circular migration quotas are managed” Guy Marius Sagna, opined. He believes that fair and transparent handling of these schemes is key to restoring trust and offering a serious alternative to illegal networks.
“We will use parliamentary oversight tools to obtain information on the selection criteria, the beneficiaries and the distribution of opportunities offered under legal mobility programmes ” the MP promised.
An Advocacy all the Way to ECOWAS
In conclusion, Mr Sagna urged the Government to ensure that the areas most adversely affected by the phenomenon are prioritised so that they can benefit fully from the State’s mechanisms promoting ‘safe, orderly and regular migration’.
While pledging not to let these witness statements go unheeded, he reaffirmed his determination to carry the voice of Thiaroye-sur-Mer residents both to the National Assembly of Senegal and onto the regional stage, before the ECOWAS Parliament, with a view to developing responses that are tailored to the realities on the ground.
