Ahead of the Commermor’Action event on 7 February in Yenne, Senegal Mr Saliou Diouf, founder of returnees association Boza Fii, spoke  to Dialogue Migration touching on migration issues, community support and the upcoming Commermor’Action event . 

What is Commemor’action Dakar 2026?

We play a central role in coordinating telephone lines and are often the last point of contact for boat passengers before a shipwreck occurs. In response to these tragedies, we created the Commémor’Action initiative. Our goal is to do more than just pray and count victims. We are turning commemoration into activism to raise awareness on the suffering experienced by families and to demand concrete responses to irregular migration.

Why choose Yenne? Is it a place that has been particularly affected by migration?

The choice of Yenne is strategic. It is a fishing area that has been severely impacted and where the Spanish Civil Guard carries out patrols. We want to expose the hypocrisy of their presence: those who open fire on our children at the borders cannot present themselves as our saviours on our own shores. However, this year we have chosen to decentralise our actions in departure areas in order to engage with local communities: Mbour on 6 February, Yenne on 7 February, Pikine on 8 February, and Mbao on 9 February. Take 6 February (decentralised commemoration) as an example: this day pays tribute to the victims of 6 February 2014 in Ceuta, when the Guardia Civil opened fire on migrants. Despite the case being dismissed by the courts, more than 60 organisations worldwide (in Morocco, Tunisia, Germany, France and Senegal) mobilise every year to demand redress. We also honour the memory of those who died in the Melilla massacre on 24 June 2022. We promise not to forget those who have died at the borders, and we fight against the borders that kill.

What will be on the agenda for the discussions on 7 February here in Yenne?

The half-day programme starts at 4 p.m. GMT to give you an idea of what is planned, there will be a ‘Missing at the Border’ appeal. A presentation of the missing persons census network. We will address the theme of rights to movement. A summary of freedom of movement as a fundamental right will be provided. In terms of screenings, there will be documentaries on Ceuta and Melilla, as well as on the ‘cemeteries of the unknown’. Discussion spaces (Open Mic) and testimonials from families will also be provided to break taboos and stigma. As a symbolic action, we will unveil a 100-metre banner listing the names of those who have gone missing since 1993, hold a candlelit vigil and lay wreaths.

Let’s also talk about Boza Fii. Could you explain the meaning behind your struggle?

My commitment is rooted in my personal journey. Despite graduating from a maritime school with a BTS in Heavy Mechanics and gaining eight years of professional experience, I was told that I was not considered ‘functional’ in Senegal. It is precisely this lack of prospects that drives many people to leave. Through Boza Fii, we strongly denounce visa fraud and the arbitrary system that exploits citizens. The difficulty of obtaining legal visas pushes many towards dangerous migration routes. We also oppose the deployment of Frontex in Senegal because this organisation is responsible for structural violence at borders. We reject the criminalisation of migration: the right to mobility must be recognised. We stand in solidarity with migrants and support affected families, reminding governments that bilateral agreements must never be concluded at the expense of human life.

Within our network, we run follow-up programmes known as ‘shifts’. When an alert is issued, we closely monitor the involved boat. If no information emerges after fifteen days, we close the active search file and open a missing persons follow-up case. This process is essential, as many families would otherwise be left without answers. From 2018 to 2021, I worked in Morocco to help identify victims and document mass graves. This allowed families to mourn their loved ones and receive definitive information about their fate.

What is your view on migration in Senegal?

We believe that a great deal, more needs to be done to address the issue of irregular migration in Senegal, particularly with regard to those who have disappeared at sea or in the desert. Families need answers and the opportunity to mourn their loved ones. We are deeply concerned by the President’s announcement that individuals reporting acts of irregular migration will be rewarded. Mobility is a fundamental human right and need, so the current trend towards criminalisation is difficult to understand. Those involved are, above all, people in need of support and protection, not punishment. For these reasons, we believe that the current approach to migration in Senegal is failing to make meaningful progress.