In an unprecedented collaboration, the International Organisation of Migration (IOM) and the governments of The Gambia and Mauritania are working together to locate migrants who have gone missing or died while travelling to Europe. With the support of partners such as the ICRC and forensic anthropology teams, the programme will provide answers for families, strengthen national capabilities and prevent further tragedies along the Atlantic route and in the Sahara.
There is good news for The Gambia and Mauritania. The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has launched a national capacity-building project with the two countries to help locate missing or deceased migrants travelling between Africa and Europe. Described as the first initiative of its kind in the region, the project is a necessary update to institutional responses to the ongoing humanitarian crisis, which claims thousands of lives each year.
According to Sylvia Ekra, the IOM’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa, the programme aims to strengthen coordination between national and local levels, establishing a comprehensive approach to dealing with situations involving missing or deceased migrants. “By empowering national and local governments and strengthening cross-border cooperation, we are saving lives and restoring hope and dignity to families who have waited too long for answers,” she said.
The initiative will draw on the IOM’s extensive experience of tracing missing migrants and addressing the human consequences of migration. The aim is to implement coordinated investigation systems, carry out forensic identification of remains where necessary, and provide enhanced psychosocial support for families of missing persons. Specialised training and technical support will be provided to equip relevant authorities with the appropriate tools and to promote effective cooperation between transit and destination countries.
A regional approach is central to the initiative. It will be carried out in coordination with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the Argentine Forensic Anthropology Team and national Red Cross and Red Crescent branches. This alliance will combine forensic expertise, family tracing and psychosocial support to provide a holistic response to human tragedies.
IOM figures paint a tragic picture of deaths and disappearances. Over the past decade, more than 30,000 people have died in the Mediterranean, nearly 5,000 of them on the West African Atlantic route, and almost 6,000 have lost their lives crossing the Sahara. The disaster off the coast of Nouakchott in August 2025, in which at least 134 people lost their lives, illustrates the persistence of this phenomenon and the urgent need for governments and humanitarian organisations to step up their efforts.
What does this mean for families?
The absence of an official response can place a significant emotional and administrative burden on relatives. The new framework provides clearer channels for locating missing persons and identifying remains. It also supports families throughout the process, from the initial report to the post-mortem debriefing. Ultimately, the aim is to minimise the distress experienced by families and ensure that tragedies are not forgotten. Beyond the humanitarian aspect, the initiative is part of a broader regional security and stability framework. Strengthening national capacities and cross-border cooperation can improve migration management, reduce the risks of irregular migration, and support more coherent public policies regarding employment, education and social protection for vulnerable young people.
