‘Backway’ Returnee Tells Heartbreaking Story of Loss and Regret

Alieu Manneh’s journey began with hope, buoyed by the support of his mother. “She was my only godmother,” he remembers with a heavy heart, “and she sacrificed everything for me. » Alieu described the terror that struck him when, shortly after his trip, he was kidnapped by agents in Mali. Along with other Gambians, he was threatened with guns and forced to return what little money and belongings they were carrying. “We thought these agents would guide us to safety,” he said, “but they betrayed us by taking everything.”

After spending three years on the way home, Alieu finally returned to Gambia, only to face another devastating blow: his mother had died in his absence. The loss of his mother weighed heavily on him, as he reflected on the sacrifices she had made, even going so far as to sell the family land to finance his journey. “I came home with nothing. My mother was gone, and so was the land she had fought to keep for us.

Alieu’s journey also witnessed countless tragedies. He remembers very well the night when two of his Gambian brothers were thrown into the water, victims of brutal decisions taken during their boat crossing.

He also described how several other travelers, apparently lost in the middle of the sea, disappeared under mysterious circumstances. “People were just disappearing,” he said, “and no one knew where they were going. We all suffered, and so few made it out alive.

Reflecting on the journey that cost him over 100,000 dalasis and the loss of the 20×20 family plot, Alieu expressed his deep regret. In a voice full of sadness, he urged his fellow Gambians to abandon the “back road”, describing it as a path paved with dangers and sorrows.

Today, Alieu struggles to rebuild his life, yearning for stability and a fresh start. He appeals to the government for help in starting a small business, hoping to find a way to support himself and find purpose again after everything he has endured. “I want to stand on my own two feet again,” he says, hoping his story can prevent others from suffering the same fate.