This blog post has been on my mind for quite some time but I’ve
been struggling to find the best way to talk about the issue. I’m still not
sure I will be as eloquent as I would like, but I’m going to try.
Growing up in the USA, references to immigration, or “illegal
immigration” as its typically called in the media, usually relate to people coming
into the USA from either Mexico or countries in South/Central America. For me,
whether due to naïveté or just lack of exposure, this was really my entire
viewpoint of immigration. So when I arrived in Senegal and started to truly understand
my surroundings, I was surprised to find that there is such a pervasive
immigration movement in West Africa, mainly to Western Europe.
I would venture that every single person in my village of
approx. 700 could name at least 1 person living in Spain, France, or Italy.
They could probably also give you a list of people they know currently on their
way.
I’ve struggled my entire Peace Corps service thus far trying
to decide how I feel about this issue of immigration. I’ve circulated through
different feelings of the people leaving Senegal as selfish or reckless or
lazy. But the day illegal immigration became personal for me I realized that,
at the base of it all, it’s usually about HOPE.
One day in mid-January 2015, my host cousin Iboudabou
(E-boo-da-boo), left his village and family to begin the long journey to Italy.
He left in the cover of darkness, telling only his mother that he was leaving
for fear (and probably the reality) that his older brothers would force him to
stay. Iboudabou is around 16 years old and was enrolled in school and performing
really well when he quit to make the journey.
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| Iboudabou (far right) with his older brother Hamay (left) & friend |
It scared my entire family when
we found out he had left, and our lengthy greetings have now been amended to
regularly ask if anyone has news from him. In the beginning days of his trip,
Iboudabou would often call my other host cousin Tidiane to give updates on his
whereabouts. Tidiane would then come over & I would pull out the world map
in the back of my planner and we would map out his route. Tambacounda, Senegal
– Bamako, Mali – Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso – Agadez, Niger – Sabha, Libya –
Tripoli, Libya
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| Iboudabou's brothers (Lamine & Tidiane) & his mom with my parents |
Frequent radio reports of boats of migrants, mainly from
West Africa, sinking on the trip to Italy and killing almost everyone aboard
gave us reason for concern. Therefore, Iboudabou has paused his journey and is
currently working in Tripoli, Libya, still hoping to make the journey across
water soon.
He is just one of many people in my area of Senegal who are
currently on the trail or leaving village to try and search for a better life.
There is so much hope. Yet as someone who is blessed to live what I think all
of the Senegalese would view as a “better life”, I tend to have a more cynical
view.
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| My host brother's baby, Amadou |
Most of the Senegalese migrants, if they do make it to
Western Europe, will end up as low-paid laborers - washing dishes, driving
cabs, selling wares on the streets - living together with other people from
Senegal to drive down costs in the hopes of sending as much money back home as
possible. And the pressure from family back home can be unbearable. That family
likely does not understand the substantial increase in cost of living in places
like Madrid or Paris, and thus don’t understand when you don’t send them
millions of cfa (the Senegalese currency) every month or don’t have any money
to send them when asked. They live without getting to see their families until
they are fortunate enough to receive official residency documentation, and even
then can only afford to come back for visits every 2-3 years. My oldest host
brother lives in Spain and has 5 children with his wife. His wife and children
all live in my compound, including his 9-month-old son who was conceived on his
last visit back, & whom he won’t see for at least another year.
These are some of the challenges faced by those trying to
provide better lives for their families. But these challenges only get to be faced if they stay in
the country upon arrival. If you’ve been following any of the
immigration-related news in the EU recently, the EU is experiencing
unprecedented numbers of immigrants to places all over, to such a capacity that
they will not be able to handle all of the people. Many possibilities are being
discussed for how to handle this immigration issue, but what is fairly certain
is that not all groups will be treated equally. Those considered “refugees”,
fleeing persecution of some kind and seeking safety, will likely be considered
differently from those considered “migrants”. The Senegalese fall into this
latter category – they are not fleeing persecution of any kind, but rather are
economic migrants in search of a better financial situation. If 2 immigrants
are caught and only 1 can stay, I believe the migrant will get sent home every
time. It’s in these thoughts that this issue feels personal to me now, thinking
of my cousin Iboudabou and the risks he is taking with his life for the life of
others, just to potentially get turned back at the entrance to the promised
land.
Needless to say, I understand (as best as I possibly can)
the desire these people have to make better lives for themselves. But as I
said, I also struggle with the way those lives are being sought. Senegal is
still very much lacking economically, and I often think what could happen to
the development of this country if people stopped leaving to try and make money
in other places, and instead focused their efforts on making Senegal itself
more productive from the inside.
Take, for example, the solar panel my family has on the roof
of our building thanks to my host brother in Spain/host uncle in France. It’s
great that we have a solar panel, but the light bulbs available for purchase in
this country are of such shoddy quality that often the light produced is still
so meager is hardly seems useful. Money sent back to Senegal from those living
abroad accounts for 12% of Senegal’s GDP (Wall Street Journal – see link below)!
That doesn’t even include the
material goods sent back, but sometimes the infrastructure here is so weak that
it can’t support those goods anyway. And how will that infrastructure improve
if Senegal’s young & motivated are so disappointed with the opportunities
in their own country that they flock to other places in search of a better
life?
I, of course, don’t have answers to this question, but I
think this is one of the biggest challenges facing Senegal as it strives to
become a developed nation. It is certainly an issue that every Peace Corps
volunteer is familiar with here whether personally or anecdotally. I am moved
by the hope these migrants have and their unwavering belief that God will
deliver for them, but wrestle with the thought that Senegal will never truly
develop if it keeps hemorrhaging people.
Back in early June, an article was published in the Wall
Street Journal about this particular issue in Senegal. The article actually
focuses on a town in the region where I live and provides many more anecdotes
& pictures. The path they illustrate is almost identical to that traveled
by my cousin. If this interests you, please check it out here – http://www.wsj.com/articles/young-men-in-senegal-join-migrant-wave-despite-growing-prosperity-at-home-1434127244
I’ve never had such a personal connection to immigration
before, but I am fearful every time I hear my cousin Iboudabou’s name whispered
in hushed tones, anticipating the worst news possible. For now, he is safe
& on the trail for his better life. Pray for his safety and the safety of
all the others like him.
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| Iboudabou & his younger brother Ousman |
Thanks for reading.
Peace & love,
Lindsay
