Blending narrative and testimony, journalist Daouda BA’s book, Les Rêves Brisés (Broken Dreams) sheds light on the human cost of irregular migration. It tells the stories of young people striving for a better future, of mothers who have lost their sons, and of a society that is facing challenges relating to mental health and living in precarious conditions. It is an invitation to look beyond the mirage of departure. Dialogue Migration discussed with the author of this book that documents the hidden challenges of migration.
What prompted you to write about irregular migration and the tragedies occurring along the Senegalese coast?
“Les Rêves Brisés” sheds light on the multifaceted crises faced by young Africans, particularly Senegalese youth, as well as young people around the world. Irregular migration and its tragic consequences are one aspect of this. Talented young people who have lost all prospects and hope for the future in their own countries brave the Atlantic Ocean or take overland routes across borders in an attempt to reach Europe. They risk their lives in the hope of finding a better tomorrow elsewhere. Sadly, this journey often ends in tragedy, with many losing their lives along the way. This situation demands collective action to address the root causes and prevent further loss of life. This is what motivated the writing of this book, which aims to contribute to the fight against irregular migration by denouncing it, raising awareness and proposing solutions.
How was the title Les Rêves Brisés (Broken Dreams) chosen, and what does it signify in the context of your fieldwork and research?
“Les Rêves Brisés” highlights a series of ambitions and experiences that ended in failure. Each of the characters in the book set themselves an ambition, but ultimately failed to achieve their dreams. First, there is Father Bécaye, who gave up farming to become a fisherman. This was because he was unable to make a profit from his crops, which subsequently rotted due to a lack of storage space and access roads to markets. Unfortunately, the fishing industry was also facing multiple crises, including depleted fish stocks and overfishing. Then there are Abdou and Amar, two young brothers and the only sons of Soukeina, Bécaye’s wife. They dream of succeeding in life and lifting their parents out of poverty. Tragically, they lost their lives in the Atlantic Ocean while attempting to reach Europe illegally. Soukeina had dreamed of seeing her two sons succeed in life, but she lost them in unclear circumstances. In her quest to locate their remains, if only so she might pay her last respects, she will meet with failure, for they have been engulfed by the vast waters of the Atlantic. This is a heavy burden that she will carry until her death after a long battle with schizophrenia. Their dreams were cut short before they could achieve their goals, hence the title of the novel, Broken Dreams.
Abdou and Amar are central figures. What steps did you take to ensure their stories were told respectfully, and how did you go about doing so?
They represent the thousands of men, women and children who have disappeared in the Atlantic Ocean or the Western Sahara Desert while attempting to migrate illegally. They are two young brothers and the only children of their mother, Soukeina.
Abdou is a true missionary who, from an early age, set himself the goal of becoming the most intellectual person in his family and lifting his parents out of the poverty they had endured for so long. After obtaining his first university degree, he was admitted to Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar. He obtained his bachelor’s degree and was accepted onto a master’s programme. However, the courses were slow to start. He left the university and returned to his family in Saint-Louis. There, Abdou was reunited with his brother, Amar, who had set himself the goal of becoming a successful fisherman with a fleet of boats. Together, they took a canoe that had been inherited from their father, Bécaye, and set off on their journey. However, they were actually attempting illegal emigration, which unfortunately went wrong…
Could you share a scene or striking testimony that illustrates the scale of the challenges faced by migrant families?
Mother Soukeina’s “schizophrenia” is a perfect illustration of this. She lost her only son in the circumstances described above, which led her to take her own life. This shows that many Senegalese and African mothers, like Soukeina, are impoverished housewives who suffer hardship and have their dreams shattered by their children’s failures. This dramatic and deplorable situation sums up the ordeal experienced by migrant families today.
In your book, you discuss the safety of migrants, as well as the issue of captured migrants’ money financing terrorism in Africa. To what extent do you think a cooperative, continental approach is necessary to combat criminal networks and protect migrants?
Land migration poses a real security threat to African countries, particularly those in the Sahel and West Africa, and remains a concern beyond maritime routes. Human trafficking across borders is now fuelling organised crime, particularly terrorism. Chapter 7 of the book explains how migration has become the main source of funding for criminal networks and terrorist groups in Africa and the Sahel. Combating terrorism necessitates a primary focus on addressing migration along land borders. This highlights the urgent need for unified action and policies across the African region, particularly in West and North Africa, which experience the highest levels of migration. Furthermore, cooperation between African states on security matters must be strengthened.
In the book, you also mention the depletion of fishery resources in Senegal. How does this affect migration patterns?
In this section, I aimed to demonstrate the link between depleted fish stocks caused by overfishing and irregular emigration. In Senegalese fishing areas today, fishermen spend a lot of money on fuel for their canoes, yet when they return, they earn nothing. In other words, they do not recoup the money they spend on fuel. Consequently, some of these fishermen turn to transporting migrants, often in collusion with organisers of irregular journeys. The State must take responsibility for putting an end to the abusive exploitation of resources by foreign vessels, which sometimes use shell companies or front men with little capital. This would help combat irregular emigration and improve the situation in Senegalese fishing areas. Congratulations and encouragement are offered to the new Senegalese authorities for all the measures that have been taken to harmonise the fishing sector and promote sustainable development. It is now imperative to support those in the fishing industry to acquire contemporary equipment to help them fish sustainably and protect resources, as well as to ensure the continuity of fishing licences.
You also pay tribute to women who struggle to feed their children. What are the greatest difficulties, in your opinion, faced by these mothers and wives in the context of irregular migration?
From the outset, I wanted to honour these women with the following tribute: ‘To all the mothers who struggle every day to find enough to feed their children…’ The greatest difficulty these mothers face, as illustrated by the character of Mother Soukeina in the book, is a lack of psychosocial support. Many are involved in their children’s migration plans, sometimes even financing the journey, without fully considering the potential consequences. When the project fails, they become collateral victims of the tragedy. Another important factor that must not be overlooked is the issue of women’s empowerment in certain parts of the country, as this can leave women particularly vulnerable.
How does the book address the mental health issues and social pressures faced by women affected by migration?
I aimed to illustrate the social impact of emigration on society through the character of Mother Soukeina, who lost her two sons in the Atlantic Ocean. Mother Soukeina, who suffers from schizophrenia, ultimately takes her own life. This illustrates that the consequences can be varied. These can be psychological, economic and so on.
Mother Soukeina, who lives with schizophrenia and experiences intense emotional distress, is a poignant character. How did you approach this subject sensitively and without stigmatising it?
The novel form enables this, as it allows the exploration of human experiences through fictional characters, plots and themes that reflect real-life situations. In this book, we blended fiction and reality by creating carefully developed characters whose roles help convey the central message. We wrote Mother Soukeina with the same intention: to portray her with humanity and dignity, without reducing her to her condition. We also wanted to show how her environment, emotions and the events around her shape her story.
In light of your work, what public policies are most urgently needed to combat exploitation and improve living conditions?
Policies tailored to the needs and expectations of young people are needed, as it seems that young people do not identify with the policies and programmes put in place by African governments. Despite these initiatives, young people continue to turn their backs on them, choosing instead to embark on irregular migration and risk their lives. This means these programmes must be rigorously evaluated to ensure greater young people’s involvement in developing and implementing policies and programmes dedicated to them.
What advice would you give to young people considering irregular migration?
I would tell them to use legal channels if they really want to travel. Emigration itself is not a burden. It is a right recognised for all citizens. Article 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) states the following: “Everyone has the right to leave any country, including their own, and to return to their country. This right may only be restricted if these restrictions are provided for by law and are necessary to protect national security, public order, public health or public morals.” Therefore, while everyone has the freedom to choose whether to travel or remain in their country, it is essential to use legal channels for travel. African governments and European embassies in Africa should also jointly review visa access policies.
