Op-Ed: Stuck in Place: The Silent Crisis of Involuntary Immobility and Gambia's Unemployed Youth

By Muhammed Lamin Dibba – Migration Specialist and AI Policy Negotiator in Humanitarian Contexts, Switzerland

Introduction: A New Migration Crisis, Hiding in Plain Sight

Nestled in West Africa, The Gambia, the region's smallest country, has always experienced migration as the rhythmic pulse of life. However, a new and disturbing phenomenon is emerging: the silence and despair of young people who aspire to migrate but are unable to do so, a situation dubbed 'Involuntary Immobility.' While the dramatic stories of daring journeys across the Sahara and the high seas of the Mediterranean dominate headlines, it is imperative to acknowledge that 'Involuntary Immobility' represents an equally pressing yet overlooked crisis affecting the Gambia. This phenomenon has profound consequences, not least of which is fueling a burgeoning youth unemployment crisis that threatens the very fabric of Gambian society.

1. The Aspiration to Move, the Inability to Act

History offers a clear verdict that The Gambia has been a dynamic economic unit for West African Countries, not limited to Senegal and Mauritania, facilitating the flow of people, goods, and services at the borders. This is an integral component promoting sub-regional economic integration.Intra and inter-country movements remain central to people's lives, driven by diverse political, economic, and social factors. However, for many young Gambians today, the dream of migration is, as a result of financial hardship, unemployment, underemployment, and limited prospects for higher education,has ignited a fervent desire to leave, in most cases, to Europe.Yet, for a generation, these aspirations remain unfulfilled, creating what a sociologist, Carling, in 2002 termed 'involuntary immobility' – a condition strikingly similar, if not identical, to the struggles faced in Cape Verde.

The world in recent years has experienced a surge in international migration. As of 2025, 281 million people lived outside their countries of birth (about 3.6 percent) of the global population. While legal migration exists and is encouraged, a growing number resort to irregular channels – those who, lacking legal status due to irregular entry, expired visas or even entered Europe with a valid visa but overstayed their visas or undertaken unauthorized employment, violating their terms of visa, are often labelled "clandestine" or "undocumented". The aspiration to leave one's home is rarely simple, stemming from a complex interplay of "push" factors like economic despair and "pull" factors like perceived opportunities abroad, often amplified by social connections and the glamorous, albeit misleading portrayals seen on social media from those who embarked on the perilous "Back Way" journey.

2. Dreams Deferred: Social Consequences of Youth Stagnation 

In The Gambia, the consequences of this trapped ambition are stark. The shattered aspiration to migrate for a better life, particularly to Western Europe, has given rise to a wave of social vices such as theft, murder, and suicide. Young potential migrants, lacking the resources to leave, grow increasingly impatient with their circumstances at home, and most of them have no other alternatives, such as pursuing education, starting a business, or pursuing an apprenticeship. For many, the idea of either reaching Europe or facing nothing at home becomes a painful refrain.

This desperation often pushes them towards risking their lives as they traverse the treacherous Sahara Desert or the perilous Mediterranean Sea. Involuntary immobility, coupled with the allure of irregular migration fueled by the desire to financially uplift their families, culminates in widespread frustration. The perceived success of those who do make it abroad, and the yearning for a new, better life, only deepens the sense of being "stuck.''

This generation of potential youth migrants from The Gambia remains hopeful of a better life abroad despite being ensnared by involuntary immobility. Inadequate jobs and opportunities at home create a powerful yearning for the "glamorous life" they see online.

The unemployment born from involuntary immobility transforms ambitious young people into perceived liabilities. Their inability to contribute meaningfully to The Gambia's socio-economic development is a national tragedy. Disturbingly, Gambian mainstream media frequently reports on the involvement of unemployed youth in anti-social activities, ranging from armed robbery to murder. The West Coast Region of The Gambia, and Brikama in particular, exemplifies this crisis. With a rapidly growing population andlimited job opportunities. It has become one of the hardest-hit communities. Understanding the dynamics here can provide crucial insights for national policy. Brikama alone accounts for 46.3% of the working-age population, yet 21.7% of its youth are unemployed. The region also accounts for the highest number of emigrants, with 13,768 using irregular routes and 7,698 using regular ones. This should be a national emergency to holistically and critically provide alternatives for young people to avoid them being liabilities to the state, which will affect the progress, peace, and growth of the Gambia.

3. Understanding the Roots of Youth Unemployment

The causes of youth unemployment are multifaceted and deeply entrenched:

➢ Skills Mismatch

A significant disconnect exists between the skills young graduates acquire and the demands of the labor market. Many young graduates are ready to enter the labor market, but the skills they've acquired often don't align with available jobs, leading to unemployment and frustration. This often results in a difficult transition from school to the labor market for young people, and businesses are simultaneously unable to find suitable candidates for their positions.

Similarly, young people with advanced degrees or qualifications are sometimes overqualified for certain jobs, and many are also underemployed, meaning they work fewer hours than they'd prefer or are paid less than the value of their labor. There's an economic as well as a personal cost here: young people are not being allowed to work and maximize their full potential.

➢ Weak Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

While the exact cause of the skills mismatch is difficult to pinpoint in The Gambia, it is primarily a combination of factors: an outdated school curriculum that neglects vocational, practical, entrepreneurial, and employability training in favour of more conventional academics; poor connections between the private sector, public sector, and schools to promote relevant training and work experience; and a lack of instruction on how to harness life skills most students already possess. These issues collectively make life difficult for youth, often creating unemployment, which frequently leads to social vices.

➢ Corruption and Governance Deficits

Political negligence and corruption among leaders in various Gambian institutions often divert essential development funds, exacerbating unemployment. The pursuit of power retention and personal enrichment at the expense of national development leaves little room for initiatives that could genuinely empower young people.

4. Policy Solutions: Charting a Way Forward

To address the consequences of Involuntary Immobility and Youth Unemployment, the government of the Gambia and relevant stakeholders need to adopt a multi-pronged approach.

➢ Early Education and Training Programs:

The young Gambian citizens need an early orientation about citizenship, patriotism, and the importance of education for self and country. European countries are not built overnight and on fantasies; they are built through the hard work of their young people. Initiatives focusing on bridging the skills gap, from employability and job hunting to entrepreneurship and vocational training (including green economy opportunities), are crucial. Integrating such education into national curricula is the ideal long-term goal. Programs like "Work the Change" and "Be the Change Academies" serve as excellent examples of equipping youth with essential career skills. 

➢ Strengthening Access to Finance and Mentorship

The EU-Youth Empowerment Project (EU-YEP) commissioned the World Trade Organization in the Gambia to provide access to finance to aspiring young entrepreneurs and potential irregular migrants, but there is a huge gap in terms of offering guidance in financial and expectation management. Even with the EU_YEP funds, more young people prefer to travel to Europe than to stay in the Gambia. These young people need guidance, support, and supervision for a specific period to yield the dividends of their business.

➢ Bridging the Skills Gap

A collaborative effort between the private sector, government, and education systems is paramount. Businesses, directly affected by the skills mismatch, must actively engage in promoting appropriate education and skill-building from an early age. All the upper basic, senior secondary schools, and tertiary institutions should have effective and efficient career counselors to offer career guidance, and social enterprise initiatives to facilitate skills match and ensure these crucial connections.

Conclusion: Turning the Tide

This research or expert opinion seeks to inform and offer to influence government policy, bridge the unemployment gap, and promote the well-being of young Gambians. The recommendations offered a framework for understanding involuntary immobility and irregular migration, and the impact of creating opportunities for young people to thrive in the Gambia. Only by understanding and actively addressing the silent crisis of involuntary immobility can The Gambia unlock the potential of its vibrant youth and steer towards afuture of sustainable development and prosperity.

For Transparency: This article was edited with assistance from AI (ChatGPT), with all content, analysis, and argumentation authored by the writer, Muhammed LaminDibba