The Senegalese Chief Police Commissioner Mor Ngom, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Interministerial Committee for the Fight Against Irregular Migration (CILMI), revealed, at a  roundtable event held on 24 November at the Prefecture of Bakel in eastern Senegal,  that the dynamics of irregular migration departing from Senegal’s coasts have significantly declined in 2025 due to the security forces’ intensified surveillance and prevention activities. This assessment was presented at.

CILMI data highlight the strengthened efforts of the defence and security forces in monitoring and preventing irregular maritime departures. A study covering the period from January to October 2025 reports the interception of 3,763 migrants, including 1,598 Senegalese nationals and 2,165 foreign nationals. Additionally, law enforcement seized 47 vessels and referred 150 traffickers for prosecution.

According to the CILMI official, these results confirm that ‘Senegal is almost no longer a departure zone’, despite some attempts persisting. He notes that migrants now tend to favour neighbouring areas, with departures increasingly taking place ‘from Gambian coasts or other bordering countries’.

Bakel as a new transit zone due to socio-economic Drivers

Despite the success of coastal operations, CILMI is now facing a new geographic reality. “The department of Bakel in eastern Senegal, which was not previously a departure zone, has in recent months become a place of transit and recruitment for would-be migrants.”

This shift has required CILMI to adapt its strategy, notably by strengthening dialogue with local communities. Discussions carried out on the ground have clearly identified the root causes of the phenomenon namely a lack of employment opportunities and difficulties with professional reintegration.

Commissioner Mor Ngom reiterated the State’s commitment to prioritising support for young people, in an effort to deter them from taking these dangerous routes.

Meanwhile, Ngor Pouye, the deputy prefect of Bakel, highlighted the recent creation of a local Departmental Committee for the Fight Against Irregular Migration (CDLMI) in February. This committee is specifically tasked with raising awareness, preventing irregular migration and managing the border in this newly critical area.