Migration news is not limited to shipwrecks and departure statistics. From The Gambia to Chad, and from Senegal to the Mediterranean, people are raising their voices, creating alternatives and organising resistance. This press review highlights positive initiatives and the struggle for rights, while underscoring the need to view human mobility from a broader and more nuanced perspective.

Twenty young people in The Gambia, nine of whom are women, have received grants from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to start or expand businesses in key sectors such as agriculture, crafts and fashion. This initiative showcases the younger generation’s ability to generate local economic opportunities in a context where the allure of migration remains strong. However, a report by Caminando Fronteras reveals that  more than 1 800 people died or went missing while trying to reach Europe between January and May 2025, which serves as a tragic reminder of the urgent need for safe and legal migration routes.

The third edition of the IOM summer course on migration and climate change concluded in early September in N’Djamena, Chad. The programme brought together young people from across the country to raise awareness about the links between human mobility and environmental change. Its goal was to train effective ambassadors capable of promoting a rational and constructive approach to migration within their communities, in a country that functions simultaneously as a country of origin, transit and destination.

In Senegal, authorities report having arrested nearly 2,000 people in the first quarter of 2025 as part of their strategy to combat irregular migration. Yet these figures reveal both the strong desire for mobility in the region and the limitations of control-focused approaches. Despite the announcement of a long-term plan, Senegal 2050, official initiatives are struggling to meet the aspirations of young people.

Meanwhile, in Mauritania, the coastguard rescued 171 people whose boat had broken down at sea while en route to the Canary Islands. Although the authorities emphasised the security aspect of the intervention, the rescue underscores that migrants from across West Africa continue to face dangerous journeys in the absence of safe alternatives. Eight of those rescued were hospitalised in Nouakchott due to the severity of their condition.

In the Mediterranean, the Italian NGO Mediterranea Saving Humans has gathered evidence of the Libyan military’s involvement in . In the Mediterranean, the Italian NGO Mediterranea Saving Humans has documented evidence of the Libyan military’s involvement in human trafficking operations. Photographs captured by an embedded journalist show armed men in balaclavas and uniforms. These materials have been submitted to the Italian judiciary and the International Criminal Court, corroborating the testimonies of numerous refugees about the complicity of Libyan authorities in this illicit trade.

On 12 September, a new book was presented in Geneva: “The Book of Shame”. Compiled by refugees from Libya, Niger, and Tunisia, it contains around a hundred testimonies accusing the UN High Commissioner for Refugees of serious failings in its protection mandate. The book highlights the repression of protests, the silencing of refugees and the agency’s cooperation with European containment policies, giving a direct voice to those most affected.

Meanwhile, a new campus run by the organisation eachOne is opening in Montreuil, near Paris, France to support refugees and new arrivals in their professional integration. Instead of promoting rejectionist rhetoric, the school focuses on training and economic inclusion as essential pathways toward a more inclusive society.

At the same time, in Spain, the courts have convicted the former government delegate of Ceuta and the city’s former vice-president for the illegal deportation of 55 Moroccan minors in 2021. This ruling  bars them from holding public office for nine years and serves as a stark reminder that the protection of migrant children must take priority over political considerations and arbitrary decisions.

The humanitarian ship Open Arms has docked in the Canary Islands for two months. In addition to carrying out rescue missions in the Mediterranean, the NGO aims to raise awareness among the local population about the realities of the Atlantic migration route. Conferences and educational visits are planned to shift the debate toward the human dimension of migration, countering its growing political exploitation in Europe.Finally, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has reported a 34% increase in migratory movements toward the Arabian Peninsula during the first half of 2025. Despite the extreme risks, including scorching heat in the Djibouti desert, forced disembarkations, and violence from smugglers, tens of thousands continue their journey. This trend underscores both the severity of conditions in their countries of origin and the resilience of migrants, who are willing to endure great hardship in pursuit of a better future.