- May 2025
Migratory routes linking Africa with Europe are among the world’s deadliest. Recognition of the central importance of States in addressing this issue is at the heart of a new Network of National Focal Points for Missing Migrants.
According to IOM’s Missing Migrants Project, of the more than 70,000 people who have died or gone missing on migration routes globally in the 10 years since 2014, more than 31,000 cases were recorded in the Mediterranean and 16,000 on the African continent. Another report, by UNHCR, IOM and the Mixed Migration Centre, estimates that, with many more people crossing the Sahara Desert than the Mediterranean Sea, the number of migrants dying in the desert is double that of migrants dying at sea. It is clear that many cases go unreported, as migrants lose their lives during increasingly dangerous migration journeys, become victims of trafficking, or vanish in irregular detention. 2023 was the deadliest year for migrants on record, with at least 8,500 reported deaths along migration routes worldwide. This represents a tragic increase of 20% compared with 2022, highlighting the urgent need for action to prevent further loss of life.
The fate of those who die or disappear during their migration journey is rarely clarified. Most of the deceased are buried in unmarked graves in transit or in destination countries or are never recovered. This has devastating consequences for the families and communities left behind who face perpetual uncertainty over their loved ones’ fate as well as stigmatisation, economic hardship due to the loss of a breadwinner, and a range of psychosocial needs. Where these issues are not adequately addressed by States, they risk becoming additional drivers of instability and migration.
Navigating States’ roles and responsibilities
Although international law lacks a comprehensive framework of obligations applicable to the specific issue of missing migrants, it does contain provisions relating to missing persons and their families. For example, International Humanitarian Law defines obligations to search for missing and dead persons in the context of armed conflict. International Human Rights Law (IHRL), notably through the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, obliges States Parties to take preventative measures, investigate cases and provide remedies for victims. In September 2023, the Committee on Enforced Disappearances adopted the first General Comment on Enforced Disappearance in the Context of Migration, highlighting that the growing numbers of missing migrants include victims of enforced disappearance. Other human rights treaties have been interpreted as giving rise to obligations relevant to this issue. These obligations include clarifying the fate and whereabouts of missing persons and ensuring that States uphold the rights of their relatives and the deceased.[1] In addition, the prohibition of pushbacks under the non-refoulement principle and of immigration detention without proper registration and the right of detained migrants to contact their relatives or a legal representative are IHRL principles of relevance to the issue. While International Refugee Law does not directly address missing persons, its provisions relating to non-refoulement, family reunification, protection of vulnerable groups, and humanitarian principles are of direct relevance to the issue of missing and separated persons.
States have also begun to develop increasingly specific political commitments, policies and practices that aim to increase efforts to prevent and resolve cases of missing migrants. These call for the development of adequate and effective legal and institutional frameworks, the sharing of knowledge and technical capacities, and enhanced cooperation along migratory routes. Such commitments recognise that efforts to prevent and address missing migrant cases cannot succeed without States playing a central role as they have unique prerogatives that cannot be exercised by other actors. For example, the identification of a deceased person is a legal act, usually based on scientific analysis, that can only be carried out by State authorities. States also hold information of critical importance to any search efforts, for example information contained in immigration databases and detention registers. Finally, States have unrivalled resources and capacities, whether pertaining to the recovery and management of the dead, the search for missing persons including through law enforcement institutions, or the power to enact and amend policies and practices that help prevent or contribute to the issue.
At the continental level, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights took a leading role in 2021 with the adoption of the Resolution on missing migrants and refugees in Africa and the impact on their families. The resolution lays out a broad range of measures that States should adopt in order to prevent the disappearance of migrants and to address the multiple consequences that such disappearances generate for their families and communities. In September 2024, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe followed suit by adopting a Resolution on ‘Missing migrants, refugees and asylum seekers – A call to clarify their fate’. Such initiatives illustrate that, for a growing number of States, ignoring the all too often preventable deaths and disappearance of thousands of migrants is no longer an option.
Case study: The Gambia
Like many other countries in West Africa, The Gambia has been profoundly shaped by migration as a country of origin, transit and destination. With over 60% of its population under the age of 25, the country grapples with high youth unemployment and underemployment, driving many people to seek opportunities abroad. The political history of The Gambia, marked by 22 years of repression under former President Yahya Jammeh, has also contributed to outward migration. Although the political climate has improved since 2017, systemic issues persist, prompting continued emigration.
In the absence of sufficient pathways for regular migration, Gambians often embark on dangerous migration journeys, commonly through the Central Mediterranean route, via Senegal, Mali, Niger and Libya, or the Western Mediterranean route through Morocco to Spain. These routes are fraught with risks, including extreme desert conditions, overcrowded boats and the constant threat of human trafficking, forced labour and exploitation, particularly in North Africa. As a consequence, many Gambians never reach their destination. In 2024 alone, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recorded approximately 50 cases of families searching for their missing loved ones. Prominent Gambian migrant activist, Ebrima Drammeh, claims that 1,608 Gambians have gone missing while trying to reach Europe by crossing the Mediterranean in 2024.[2] Women and children face additional vulnerabilities, particularly in detention and during deportation without legal protection.
The Gambian government has recognised the fate of its citizens missing abroad as a political priority. In 2023, it became a member of the Global Alliance for the Missing, an initiative launched by Switzerland and the ICRC in 2021. This alliance, now comprising 13 Member States, raises awareness about missing persons and separated families, influences global responses and drives action to address this critical challenge. At the same time, The Gambia has begun to strengthen legal and institutional frameworks with regard to missing persons and to increase capacity in areas such as identification and tracing as well as border management. Authorities are also working to expand regular migration opportunities as essential measures to mitigate the risks faced by Gambians seeking a better future abroad.
Specifically with regard to missing migrants, The Gambia has created an Inter-Agency Missing Migrant Technical Working Group, which has developed community-based systems that leverage local networks and civil society organisations in order to collect ante-mortem data. These use digital communication platforms such as WhatsApp groups, activist-run online TV channels, and Facebook to facilitate information sharing. These platforms help families, communities and organisations report cases, share updates, and track missing migrants in real time. Although this initiative enhances coordination and collaboration among government agencies and local actors, the verification of information and the support to affected families remains a challenge. However, this approach recognises the vital role of community members, activists, and civil society groups in addressing migration-related challenges, raises awareness about migration risks and provides a platform for affected families to seek assistance.
Additionally, The Gambia has established psychosocial support services for affected families and has enhanced its collaboration with organisations like the Gambia Red Cross Society, ICRC and IOM. It has also formed a National Taskforce on Missing Migrants, comprising key institutions such as the Ministries of Justice, Interior, Health, and Gender, along with the Gambia Red Cross Society. For such measures at the domestic level to yield results, in particular, in terms of resolving cases of missing Gambians abroad, greater cooperation among countries of origin, transit and destination is required. This is the goal of the Rabat Process in addressing the issue of missing migrants.
The Rabat Process: from recommendations to action
Since its inception in 2006, the Rabat Process, formally known as the Euro-African Dialogue on Migration and Development, has served as an important platform for fostering dialogue and cooperation among 57 partner countries and key stakeholders, including the EU and the Economic Community of West African States. By connecting countries of origin, transit and destination across Central, West and Northern Africa and Europe, it provides a unique space for policymakers and practitioners to share knowledge and jointly address migration and development challenges. Recognising that effective responses require coordinated action, the Rabat Process has become instrumental in developing policy recommendations and translating them into tangible initiatives.
By according the ICRC permanent observer status in December 2022, the Rabat Process sought to strengthen its commitment to protecting vulnerable migrants. Since then, working closely with the Secretariat, the ICRC has played a pivotal role in transforming dialogue into meaningful action based on humanitarian principles.
Under its diplomatic initiative on missing migrants, Switzerland launched a discussion on missing persons in the context of migration within the Rabat Process in 2021. The topic was thereafter introduced as a key milestone in the Cadiz Action Plan 2023–2027, the Dialogue’s strategic blueprint for action. As part of this plan, Member States agree to establish trans-regional coordination channels, share information on missing persons with families (while respecting data protection rules) and enhance coordination to identify deceased migrants along migration routes. A discussion of the issue followed during a thematic meeting on ‘Family separation and missing persons in the context of migration’, co-chaired by Switzerland and The Gambia in Geneva in 2023. The meeting identified critical challenges, good practices and lessons learned in preventing migrant deaths, tracing missing persons and reuniting separated families. Among the challenges discussed was the shortage of government officials with designated responsibilities for these matters, which often rendered transnational cooperation impossible. A key recommendation therefore focused on the creation of a network of national focal points.
A network of national focal points
Endorsed by Rabat Process partners, the Network of National Focal Points for Missing Migrants was launched in July 2024 by the ICRC, Switzerland and The Gambia with support from the Rabat Process Secretariat. Its members meet regularly on a virtual basis to sustain focus on this pressing challenge and to catalyse governmental action to clarify the fate of missing migrants and provide relevant information to their families. The network seeks to develop links between families, authorities and support organisations, ensuring that information is gathered, shared and acted upon efficiently and in line with basic data protection standards. It also aims to leverage local knowledge, community-driven approaches and coordinated transborder cooperation. Drawing on concrete initiatives, the network has so far focused on the exchange of best practices carried out by authorities in different countries to search for and identify missing migrants. The network has offered practical solutions and lessons learned and thereby equipped national focal points with additional tools and knowledge to navigate the complexities of missing person cases. The network offers a valuable model for addressing the humanitarian tragedy of missing migrants that could inform similar efforts – such as those in East Africa under the framework of the Khartoum Process. Usually situated in Ministries of Foreign Affairs or overseeing the migration portfolio, a national focal point’s primary role is to receive and respond to inquiries by authorities in other countries with regard to specific cases, and to represent their authorities in discussions on cooperation or policy questions. At the same time, the focal points are intended to act as an entry point for families of missing migrants, including through intermediaries such as local Red Cross or Red Crescent Societies. It is vital to secure participation by relatives throughout the search and investigation process, even if they are located abroad. In order to be able to refer case enquiries when needed, focal points need to have an understanding of relevant policies and practices as well as the role of different authorities, including police, border management, immigration officers, prison services, forensic experts, coastguards and others.
As of April 2025, 20 partner countries of the Rabat Process have officially nominated a national focal point for missing migrants and more are expected to join soon. Looking ahead, The Gambia will host a thematic meeting with Rabat Process partner countries, co-chaired by Switzerland and aligning with the thematic focus of the Nigerian chairmanship of the Dialogue in July 2025. The members of the network, along with regional and international organisations, will be invited to participate and contribute to discussions aiming to enhance collaboration, foster innovative solutions and strengthen the network’s role in addressing the humanitarian challenge of missing migrants.
To conclude, fostering collaboration among States is essential to improve and advance policies, processes and mechanisms given the increasing number of migrants going missing each year. The migratory context presents unique challenges in searching for missing persons across multiple countries, which requires a coordinated approach among States involving countries of origin, transit and destination. The Network of National Focal Points for Missing Migrants aims to overcome these challenges and to offer solutions to missing migrants and their families.
Should your government wish to join the network and nominate a national focal point for missing migrants, please contact the Rabat Process Secretariat at rabatprocess@icmpd.org.
This article was written with the support of the Rabat Process Secretariat, ICMPD, rabatprocess@icmpd.org.
Jana Röthlisberger
Programme Officer, Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
Ndumbeh Saho
Director, Diaspora and Migration, Gambian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Florian von König
Global Advocacy Lead, Central Tracing Agency, ICRC
[1] ICRC (2023) Missing persons and their families: International legal framework, Geneva
[2] The FATU Network (2025) ‘1,603 Gambian Migrants Died While Attempting to Reach Europe in 2024’
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