By Adama Makasuba
President Adama Barrow has revealed that his government is working on a tough bill that will punish with a lengthy jail term people who transport Gambian youths to Europe through the perilous backway.
Barrow announced on Sunday while addressing a rally in Brikama as he continued his nationwide meet-the-people tour. He said: “We are preparing a bill to punish anyone transporting our youths to Europe. My minister of justice is drafting the bill. We will not allow anyone to kill our youths through this dangerous route to Europe. Anyone found wanting will be imprisoned for life.”
The president’s comment came amid a surge in Gambian youths traveling to Europe through the Mediterranean Sea, known locally as the backway. Dozens of young Gambian migrants have died embarking on this dangerous route to Europe.
Gambia is one of the poorest countries in Africa, with limited resources to help its youthful population. The country’s economy is faltering amidst rising youth unemployment.
Thousands of Gambians live below the World Bank’s poverty line, and many families rely on remittances sent by relatives living abroad in Europe, America, and Asian countries for their daily upkeep. According to the Central Bank of the Gambia, $564.1 million has been sent as remittances from January to September 2023.
