Senegalese children, adolescents and teenagers are still hightailing it to The Gambia to seek “greener pastures”, but some Gambians have started to worry over the Gambia’s capacity to cope with the influx.
Mass migration from Senegal to The Gambia is not a new phenomenon as Senegalese migrants started to flood the country a little after 1816 when the King of Kombo ceded the island of Banjul to the British administrator Alexander Grant.
Since then, Senegalese nationals, especially businessmen from Goree Island began to flood Banjul, which was at the time known as Banjulo. Banjulo is a Mandinka word for a bamboo strand. This wave of migration from the Goree island precipitated waves of migration from other parts of Senegal such as Sine, Saloum and Cayor. Most of these migrants integrated well into the Gambian society, sent their children to school and some were even allowed to set up their own settlements. It was a model of integration in Africa.
Fast forward to 2024, The Gambia has started to experience a similar pattern of mass Senegalese migration, but some citizens are worried that the success of the 1880s integration efforts may not be repeated this time around in view of numerous variables.
The hordes of Senegalese children, adolescents and teenagers have found themselves struggling with many Gambians they deal with on a daily basis as value systems continue to clash. Most of them are touts at car parks and ferry terminals while others are street hawkers and market vendors. However, so many of them only feed on hope.
Less than two months ago,the Gambia Transport Union mobilized some of its members to the usually chaotic Tippa Garage area as young Senegalese touts and driver’s mates continued to cause heartaches to commuters as a result of property theft.
“These boys also appear to have no home-training. They can be insolent, spiteful and very dishonest,” one commentator said.
Indeed, these are some of the issues that commuters always find themselves dealing with.
“They would refuse to give you change and whenever you ask for it, they will go wild and become insolent,” Mustapha Saidy commented to JollofNews.
Since the ouster of Macky Sall, the number of unaccompanied minors from Senegal, coming to The Gambia in search of “better life”, cannot escape notice. Many of them come to The Gambia without means of support and, therefore, are exposed to the dangers and the influence of the street.
Some of these teenagers have been involved in crimes such as mobile phone theft.
Meanwhile, since 2019, nearly five Gambians were allegedly murdered by Senegalese nationals, sometimes in attempts to deprive them of their property.
The Gambia’s vulnerability to Senegalese nationals is also felt at the common borders of the two countries as concern in border communities over the brazen cross-border armed robbery by Senegalese nationals grew.
The influx of Senegalese children and youth into The Gambia has its good side, too. Many Senegalese nationals are key drivers of the Gambia’s economy. They are skilled, hard-working and law-abiding. Senegalese can be found in key sectors of the Gambia’s economy such as transport, trade, construction and fisheries. Some have children here and have integrated well into the Gambian society.
