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Dialog space

Testimony

Stories and voices of people directly concerned by migration in Africa.

From fields to frontiers: Fatou’s football dream and the cost of leaving
Testimony

From fields to frontiers: Fatou’s football dream and the cost of leaving

Fatou is a 16-year-old aspiring footballer from Thiaroye-sur-Mer whose dream of playing in Europe is confronted with the harsh realities of failed irregular migration. Her story intertwines her passion for football with family dilemmas, shedding light on the profound motivations that push young individuals to seek asylum and the grave consequences that often follow. Amidst …

4 Oct 2025 Ndiémé Faye Ndiémé Faye
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Rural exodus in Togo: a silent mobility and its socio-economic impacts
Testimony

Rural exodus in Togo: a silent mobility and its socio-economic impacts

In the silence of unannounced departures, a phenomenon is shaping Togolese society without making headlines: rural exodus. Every year, thousands of young Togolese leave rural areas to try their luck in cities like Lomé, Kara or Kpalimé. While this internal mobility may seem natural, it has profound consequences on agriculture, family structures and the economic …

7 Aug 2025 Koffi Dzakpata Koffi Dzakpata
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Sidy Daffé turns his back on the sea to save lives in Senegal’s coastal town
Testimony

Sidy Daffé turns his back on the sea to save lives in Senegal’s coastal town

Hailing from Joal-Fadiouth, a commune in the coastal petite-côte region of Senegal, southeast of Dakar, Sidy Daffé has experienced the dangers of irregular migration firsthand. After several failed attempts to reach Europe by sea, he decided to take control of his destiny by becoming an activist. Today, he educates young people about the risks of …

5 Aug 2025 Ndiémé Faye Ndiémé Faye
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No young person leaves their homeland for fun, it’s a nightmare,Chadian activist says
Testimony

No young person leaves their homeland for fun, it’s a nightmare,Chadian activist says

Sika’s name has become well-known among Chadian internet users. This young woman is known for her committed activism and regularly stirs up the web in Chad by denouncing the poor governance and profound social injustices that plague her country. Having lived in Canada for over a year, Sika Nguemta continues her struggle from afar. However, …

5 Aug 2025 Ndengar Masbé Ndengar Masbé
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Ivorian lady narrates experience at borders, her dreams across Maghreb
Testimony

Ivorian lady narrates experience at borders, her dreams across Maghreb

At first glance, Josiane*’s story seems quite ordinary. It is just the account of a migrant sharing her experience of migrating and crossing other Maghreb borders. However, if you listen carefully, you will discover the sad story of a woman and her husband searching for a better tomorrow, driven not by charity, but by their …

9 Jul 2025 Youssouf Abdoulaye Haidara Youssouf Abdoulaye Haidara
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Is nationality an obstacle or an opportunity? The case of Michael in Benin
Testimony

Is nationality an obstacle or an opportunity? The case of Michael in Benin

Can nationality be a barrier to entering the public sector in a foreign African country? And what happens when you need experience to get your foot in the door? Michael shares his experience in Benin with Dialogue Migration. Michael* is a second-year Master’s student specialising in Computer Telecommunication Networks and has three years of work …

4 Jul 2025 Ange Banouwin Ange Banouwin
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Le destin d’un migrant, a film revealing truth behind irregular migration
Testimony

Le destin d’un migrant, a film revealing truth behind irregular migration

Directed by Oumar Brams Mbaye, this documentary was filmed over 11 years in 14 countries across Africa and Europe. The 66-minute film unveils the harrowing experiences of migrants and sheds light on the often misunderstood reality of irregular migration.In this exclusive interview with Ndiémé Faye for Dialogue Migration, the director reflects on the deeply intense …

4 Jul 2025 Ndiémé Faye Ndiémé Faye
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Cross-border travel in Africa: border checkpoints and corruption
Testimony

Cross-border travel in Africa: border checkpoints and corruption

Even the most determined traveller can be discouraged from travelling in parts of Africa due to challenging conditions such as corruption, forced returns, constant checks and mistreatment. Cryspin Laoundiki experienced this first-hand on a gruelling 4,000 km road trip from Chad to Burkina Faso via Niger, Benin and Togo. It was an exhausting and eye-opening …

4 Jul 2025 Ndengar Masbé Ndengar Masbé
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General Ndar takes up the fight against irregular migration
Testimony

General Ndar takes up the fight against irregular migration

His real name is Cheikh Sadibou Ndiaye. A committed artist, he is driven by a deep conviction to raise awareness of the dangers of irregular migration. Through his music, particularly in his native region of Saint-Louis, he gives a voice to a cause that has touched countless lives. For over 15 years, General Ndar has …

30 Jun 2025 Ndiémé Faye Ndiémé Faye
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Chasing horizons: three Senegalese voices on migration, hope, return
Testimony

Chasing horizons: three Senegalese voices on migration, hope, return

Migration is not just movement. It is a memory, struggle and sometimes, return. In this article, three Senegalese individuals open up about their journeys in pursuit of a better life beyond borders. Khalil Baldé, once an irregular migrant from Dakar, now resettled in Mbour, reflects on his ordeals in North Africa. Fallou Diop, from Guédiawaye, …

24 Jun 2025 Mamadou Diop Mamadou Diop
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Tchessi Fassassi highlights how sport drives integration among migrants in Cotonou
Testimony

Tchessi Fassassi highlights how sport drives integration among migrants in Cotonou

In Cotonou, Benin’s bustling economic capital, migration has quietly shaped local communities for decades. From neighbouring West African countries to Central Africa, people on the move have brought with them diverse cultures, challenges and opportunities for cohabitation. At the heart of this dynamic lies the Centre Sportif Municipal Soweto, where migrants and locals meet, play …

24 Jun 2025 Ange Banouwin Ange Banouwin
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Realities of academic mobility for foreign students in Benin
Testimony

Realities of academic mobility for foreign students in Benin

Many young graduates from neighbouring countries – as well as from across West and Central Africa – come to Benin to pursue their university education. There are several reasons behind this choice. Dialogue Migration met with some of these students in Cotonou to learn why they chose this West African country for their studies. There …

24 Jun 2025 Ange Banouwin Ange Banouwin
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