A group of voluntarily returned migrants and human rights activists established and manage the  Senegalese association Boza Fii, based in Dakar. Boza Fii rolls out  initiatives in Senegal to improve the living conditions of migrants and to promote migration policies that respect their rights and those of their families.

In order to achieve these goals, the association coordinates various awareness-raising and mobilisation actions , such as caravans,remembrance/commemoration days, cultural festivals, transnational exchange and debate spaces and advocacy campaigns. These actions aim to promote mutual support, sharing experiences and testimonies, while stimulating debate and exerting pressure on political and European institutions.

“Boza Fii,” derived from the Bamoun language spoken in Cameroon, translates to “the cry of victory for a successful journey towards freedom” and symbolises the determination of the association. It passionately fights for the fundamental right to free movement, a universal aspiration.

Saliou Diouf, one of the founders, highlights the alarming lack of information and exposes the often overlooked aspects of migration. For him, there is no such thing as irregular or clandestine migration. Every migrant deserves to be treated with dignity, he says, condemning the criminalisation of irregular migration as a grave mistake. He does not hesitate to denounce the failings of State authorities and structures  like Frontex, while criticising the overwhelming silence from the African continent on the tragedy of lives lost at the borders.

For Boza Fii, the loss of life at sea could have been avoided if States had taken appropriate measures. Saliou Diouf also highlights the complexity of securing an appointment for a visa in Senegal, which is a real challenge for migrants. He stresses that it is unthinkable to address the issue of irregular migration without facilitating access to visas for those who wish to travel and build a better future.

Boza Fii fights daily to defend the right to freedom of movement, providing vital support to those dreaming of a promising future, while reminding us that the struggle for human and just solutions must continue relentlessly.