The year 2025 is a significant one for Senegal, marked by major security challenges, including a resurgence of irregular migration and persistent human trafficking. Consolidated data from the Gendarmerie Nationale du Sénégal reveals an intense fight against increasingly organised criminal networks exploiting the country’s geostrategic position by using its coastline as a departure point for journeys to Europe.

Pressure on the Atlantic migration route has reached critical levels, with 1,920 migrants landing on Spanish shores after 15 boats bypassed surveillance systems. In response, the National Gendarmerie has intensified its land and sea patrols, intercepting 44 boats so far this year. These large-scale operations have resulted in the arrest of 2,634 individuals, including 1,198 Senegalese nationals and 1,436 people from other countries. This highlights the transnational nature of the phenomenon, attracting people from across the region.

Temporal analysis of migration trends reveals significant seasonal fluctuations in smuggling activities. March marked the peak of the crisis, with nine (9) boats intercepted and 948 migrants apprehended in just thirty-one days. Although a relative lull was observed between April and September, renewed tensions emerged towards the end of 2025, particularly in December, when seven (7) boats were stopped and 427 people were arrested. In the fight against irregular emigration, command structures were targeted as well, and fifty (50) smugglers — the masterminds behind these perilous journeys — were arrested and handed over to the courts. The success of the deterrence strategy largely hinges on disrupting the logistical networks behind these operations.

Units of the National Gendarmerie made several significant seizures, including twenty-three (23) wooden boats, nine (9) high-powered engines, and three (3) GPS devices essential for offshore navigation. However, the most significant impact on departure capabilities was the confiscation of 12,890 litres of fuel, which thwarted numerous attempted crossings before the engines could be started. 

In addition to tackling maritime migration, the Gendarmerie also had to confront the complex issue of human trafficking, a hidden yet devastating crime. In 2025, 42 human trafficking cases were officially documented, involving 254 victims in total. Mapping this exploitation reveals striking territorial disparities linked to local economic activities. The Kédougou region accounted for the largest proportion of victims at 44.1% — around 112 people. This is directly correlated with the proliferation of illegal gold mining sites, which attract vulnerable labourers who are often subjected to forced labour or sexual exploitation. The regions of Ziguinchor and Saint-Louis further illustrate this vulnerability, with 80 and 31 victims identified, respectively.