Tragic Loss: 131 Gambian Migrants Dead in 4 Months, 254 Missing

Written by: Dawda Baldeh

A latest report by Gambian migration activist Ebrima Drammeh has sent shockwaves across the country, indicating that 131 Gambians have died and 254 remain missing between January and April 2026. The report, obtained by The Fatu Network, details migrant departures, arrivals, deaths, and disappearances during the period.

“131 Gambian migrants have lost their lives in these back way journeys to Europe in 2026, 117 lost their lives in the sea and 14 died on land,” Drammeh said in the report, adding that Gambians were also involved in four migrant boats that have gone missing without a trace. These include a boat from Batokunku on February 6 with 160 migrants, one from Kartong on March 29 with 210, another from Tanji on the same date with 190, and a separate boat from Kartong also on March 29th 2026 carrying 180 migrants.

“A total of 740 African migrants are dead or missing in the sea, we have a record of 254 Gambian migrants missing in 2026,” the report indicated. It further revealed that 1,860 migrants have arrived in Spain from The Gambia, of which 743 are Gambians, travelling in 13 different boats. Similarly, 173 Gambians were reported to have arrived in Italy after departing from Libya and Tunisia in nine separate boats.

However, the report also highlighted that 2,553 migrants were intercepted in 2026 from more than eight boats, including two in The Gambia with 147 migrants, four in Senegal with 259, and four in Morocco with 390. Of these, 574 are said to be Gambians, while marine security reportedly stopped 1,589 migrants before departure. Additionally, 572 Gambian migrants have either been deported or voluntarily returned to The Gambia in 2026, including 234 from Libya, 74 from Morocco, 38 from Germany, 6 from Sweden, 39 from Italy, 180 from Mauritania, and one from Spain.

“396 have voluntarily returned from eight different countries to The Gambia,” the report added.