Meeting in Kaolack to jointly build territorial responses to the migration challenge

Ahmed Youssouph BENGELLOUNE

President of the Association of Departments of Senegal

It is with great honour that I announce the organisation of the first edition of the International Forum of Territories on Migration, to be held on 14 and 15 December 2026 in Kaolack, an initiative of the Association of Departments of Senegal (ADS), in partnership with our network,ORU Fogar.

Migratory movements from West African countries have been constantly evolving, with a marked peak in recent years characterised by a resurgence of irregular migration and by almost daily organised departures from coastlines that have become preferred points of departure for Europe via North Africa. As a result, hundreds of migrants choose makeshift boats or the desert routes of the Sahel to cross countries facing security challenges.

Senegal, whose extensive coastline is a factor that facilitates irregular emigration to the Canary Islands, has not been spared by this migration crisis. This corridor is one of the deadliest migration routes, with pirogues capsizing at sea and a considerable loss of human life.

With varied profiles, candidates for irregular migration are mainly young people from urban and rural backgrounds, from traditional artisanal fishing areas or from the world of small trades in the popular economy, often without professional qualifications. However, it must be acknowledged that the phenomenon is now attracting more and more women, and even entire families with minor children. Many reasons are generally cited, but chief among them are socio-economic factors exacerbated by the effects of climate change, which disrupt ecosystems, reduce production and weaken agricultural systems, as well as the scarcity of fishery resources, with a real impact on those working in the sector and their households. Numerous solutions have been proposed, in particular public policies aimed at young people, but they have not yet produced the expected results.

Stricter and more rigorous coastal surveillance has certainly made it possible to intercept boats, but has not yet succeeded in stemming the phenomenon.

Migration policies are defined by the government. However, local and regional authorities, municipalities as well as departments, play an essential role in the territorialisation of these public policies and in the implementation of strategies to combat irregular migration and manage migration flows. Indeed, it is at the local level that departure initiatives originate and that the reception or reintegration of returning migrants is organised. Owing to their proximity to the population, local and regional authorities have a good knowledge of at-risk profiles and a thorough knowledge of the ground and of the social fabric within their territories. Local and regional authorities are in a position to play a monitoring and early-warning role with regard to migration, as their proximity to and interaction with the population enable them to detect signs of vulnerability, particularly among young people, before they attempt clandestine crossings.

Local and regional authorities are also in a position to act effectively by offering sustainable economic alternatives to potential migration candidates, by creating local opportunities through the design and financing of micro-projects capable of generating employment and boosting entrepreneurship and training. Thanks to decentralised cooperation mechanisms, territories of origin can attract the savings of their diaspora to finance local infrastructure (schools, water networks, health centres).

Furthermore, in light of the above, local and regional authorities are on the front line in tackling the root causes of migration. They are in a position to strengthen local synergies among all stakeholders involved, both upstream, in community awareness-raising and in the monitoring of departure areas, and downstream, in the management of returning migrants, which must beaccompanied by successful territorial anchoring. Moreover, through the powers transferred to them, local and regional authorities are on the front line in ensuring equitable access to basic social services, namely housing, health care, education and civil registration.

It is on the basis of this observation, and with a view to proposing innovative local solutions to the phenomenon of migration, that the ADS, in collaboration with ORU Fogar, has launched this International Forum of Territories on Migration. Through this initiative, the territories intend to share their experiences, propose new directions for the public policies in place and give fresh impetus to the territorialisation of the migration policies being implemented.

I take this opportunity to warmly call on all members of the ORU Fogar network to mobilise for this first edition and to take an active part in it. Your experiences, your initiatives and your expertise will be valuable contributions to the richness of our exchanges.