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Backway or bust: causes and consequences of Gambian irregular migration

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 March 2019

Catherine T. Conrad Suso*
Affiliation:
Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Saint Mary's University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Abstract

Gambian irregular migration is a phenomenon that is well known and discussed within this small African nation, yet little is understood of the deep personal and socio-cultural motives to embark on the perilous journey across the Sahara towards Europe. This paper explores the ambitions and capabilities of Gambians who embark on irregular migration, or the so-called ‘backway’.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2019 

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Footnotes

The author would like to acknowledge funding from the Saint Mary's University Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, the SMU Research Ethics Board for review of the research, Kebba Suso for assistance with fieldwork and translation and all Gambian participants of the study for sharing their voices.

References

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INTERVIEWS

To satisfy confidentiality of informants, the SMU REB required that no information be provided in the publication that could identify who the individuals are.Google Scholar