Hon. Saikouba Jarjue, the deputy head mission at the Gambia embassy in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, shares in this interview with AG Radio some of the harrowing accounts that migrant survivors of the perilous back way have recounted to him. Hon. Jarjue expressed that the embassy remains consistently alert and is ready to monitor any boats that are reported to have left from the Gambia or Senegal.
This following are excerpts from the interview.
AG Radio: When did Gambians start taking this perilous route to reach Europe?
Honourable Saikouba: While it is challenging to determine the precise starting point, it is clear that backway commenced long before 1981.
AG Radio: What is the monthly arrival rate of boats carrying migrants in Mauritania?
Honourable Saikouba: Around five boats in total every month. In October and November of this year, we received three boats from Senegal and two from the Gambia.
AG Radio: What methods does the Gambia embassy in Mauritania use to detect approaching migrant boats?
Honourable Saikouba: Alongside our collaboration with the Mauritanian and Senegalese authorities, we also monitor social media. We stay alert immediately upon receiving information. Upon the boat’s arrival, we process the individuals who survived alongside those who tragically perished at sea. We questioned the survivors, who provided us with detailed information.
AG Radio: Why do these migrant boats not head to Morocco, which is nearer to Spain than Mauritania, when they are unable to reach Spain for any reason?
Honourable Saikouba: We often posed this fascinating question to the migrants. The migrants expressed a preference for traveling to Mauritania, citing their experiences with Moroccan officials who used to imprison migrants, in contrast to the supportive and efficient assistance provided by Mauritania’s authorities in facilitating their return to the Gambia.
AG Radio: Can you provide a description of these boats along with the count of men, women, and children that used to be on board in these boats?
Honourable Saikouba: Some of these boats are constructed using wood. Placing 300 passengers onto a boat designed to accommodate just 50 individuals. Numerous incidents happen at sea due to the boat sustaining damage from powerful waves. What might you anticipate if a woman who is seven or nine months pregnant were placed in an overcrowded boat? What do you expect will occur during the seven days that the maritime journey usually spans? Some of these boats were used to transport mothers and infants as young as four months old. A family—comprising a father, mother, sons, daughters, and even a few adopted children—found themselves together in a single boat. The embassy normally gathers all essential information and communicated it to the government to guide us on the necessary actions, as the migrant issue remains a significant challenge. In a particular instance, a father placed his 7-year-old son on a departing boat, and upon arrival in Mauritania, the boy was questioned, “Why and who put you in this boat?” The boy replied my father.
AG Radio: What actions do these migrants take when they require restroom facilities, and do they carry food and water along with them?
Honourable Saikouba: In response to your question, our embassy officials previously assessed whether these migrant survivors were indeed Gambians. We used to counsel them during this process, and it was during this counseling that they provided us with all of these information. After seven days of sitting, some of them are unable to walk upon arrival, and others have experienced severe deterioration of their private parts due to the prolonged sitting and exposure to the salty seawater. Medical assistance used to be provided by our embassy personnel. Many of these boats are equipped with a small container for defecation, which is then discarded into the ocean. To minimize the need for frequent bathroom breaks, migrants often carried a substantial supply of dates and biscuits.
AG Radio: What method did you use to ascertain if the individuals who lost their lives in these boats were Gambians? What led you to conclude that the migrants originated from the Gambia? How did you go about disposing of these corpses?
Honourable Saikouba: Our embassy officials would attend when these boats arrived, initially identifying whether they were from Senegal or the Gambia, and subsequently coordinating with Mauritanian police and marines, along with the Red Cross. When we take the survivors, we question them about the identity of the deceased and their origins. After identifying the deceased and their personal identification cards, we contacted the families in Gambia and provided them with advice on the steps they could take. Families would sometimes retrieve the deceased, and at other times, they consented to have them buried in Mauritania following Islamic customs, with the Gambia embassy staff managing the rest of the arrangements. At times, an individual may experience trauma during their travels and chooses to jump into the sea. Occasionally, individuals have lost their lives on these boats, and due to a lack of storage, their bodies are disposed of overboard. At times, individuals are killed on these boats due to suspicions of witchcraft, while in other instances, women endure horrific sexual assaults that lead to their deaths. The captain of these boats sometimes takes the lives of some passengers, and at times, the passengers take the lives of the captains.
AG Radio: Have you ever witnessed something so distressing that it sometimes made it difficult for you to fall asleep at night?
Honourable Saikouba: I once had to search through the wallets of the deceased to find their ID cards, as we were unable to identify the 15 individuals who lost their lives in the boat that left Barra. A woman who was pregnant was among those who lost their lives. Only the children and a handful of non-family members survived, while both the husband and wife were among the dead. On one occasion, we were burying the dead until two in the morning.
AG Radio: Foroyaa reports that 200 Gambian migrants were detained in a warehouse in Mauritania?
Honourable Saikouba: I can assure you that this is not true; no Gambian is being held in a warehouse in Mauritania. I find this information to be quite disappointing. Recently, 81 migrants arrived, were processed, and are now on their way back home. The Senegalese embassy in Mauritania has also been a valuable resource for Gambian migrants. In Mauritania, there are no Gambians imprisoned in any warehouse. The Foroyaa publication is inaccurate. Additionally, it is incorrect to claim that the ambassador in Mauritania asked the public for D700 in fees to help migrants.
AG Radio: Even though you and Ambassador Faye hail from different tribes, your relationship is harmonious and your collaboration is effective. What insights can other embassies gain from your experiences?
Honourable Saikouba: We stand together as equals, dedicated to serving the Gambia and the interests of our people. Ambassador Faye is attentive and readily embraces wise counsel. At the Gambia embassy, he would often help families in settling their disputes.
AG Radio: For those who do not known you, who is SaiKouba Jarjue?
Honourable Saikouba: President Barrow appointed me as a councilor and later promoted me to deputy head mission here in the Gambia embassy in mauritania. I am Saikouba Jarjue, and I had the honor of serving as the national assembly representative for Busumbala from 2017 to 2022. Prior to my entry into politics, I dedicated 15 years to teaching across nursery, elementary, and secondary schools. I was born in Yundum and grew up there. Sheikh Omar Faye, my ambassador, creates a warm and inviting atmosphere for me here, and I take great pride in that. As the embassy represents the Gambia, we strive to conduct ourselves with integrity. Every Gambian is welcome here; we maintain a strong presence on social media and are consistently accessible. “Be good and fear no one” was the counsel I received from Sheikh Omar Faye, my ambassador.
AG Radio: What advice would you offer to Gambians concerning the back way?
Honourable Saikouba: Avoid embarking on this perilous journey, regardless of the challenges life presents in the Gambia. I urge parents to dissuade their children from embarking on this dangerous journey. Rather than embarking on this perilous journey, which poses significant risks, consider using this money to assist them in starting a business.
