Human smugglers have become much more sophisticated in their approach, according to Guinean migrant Mohammed Salif Bah.
They are operating from wide-ranging networks extending to migrants’ countries of origin where they are offering direct routes to Libya and to Europe, he says.
“Arriving in Libya is so much easier than in my time,” the 28-year-old, who got to Malta in 2007, told Times of Malta.
“Now, you can pay smugglers in countries like Ghana or Senegal to take you directly to Libya. They have groups of people operating in different countries.”
Last year, Mr Bah set up an awareness campaign called “R. Know More Network” where he tours open centres, speaking to migrants about the importance of educating themselves and integrating into the local culture.
Thanks to his fiancée’s mother, he will soon be fulfilling part of his dream – on July 11, he will travel to Senegal for three weeks where he will spend time visiting schools to narrate his harrowing story of the treacherous trip across the Mediterranean in a bid to discourage potential migrants.
Senegal is also home to Mr Bah’s mother and 15-year-old brother who had escaped persecution in Guinea along with Mr Bah.
Mr Bah has not seen them since the day he left Senegal and he breaks down when trying to articulate his joy at the thought of embracing them again.
Mr Bah had escaped persecution in Guinea, fleeing to Senegal and proceeding to Niger, Mali, Algeria and Libya, where he boarded a frail boat in attempt to reach Europe.
His voice chokes up when he refers to the 800 migrants who tragically lost their lives a week ago in the deadly Mediterranean exodus.
“I cried so hard when I heard the news. I couldn’t sleep, thinking of all those people sinking to the dark depths of the sea. It is a tragedy which I myself narrowly escaped.”
To get from Algeria to Libya, he spent five days walking across the scorching desert.
“I’ve seen people die along the way. And if you’re lucky enough to get to Libya, the probability is that they’ll throw you into prison where you’ll be tortured or abused.”
I cried so hard when I heard the news. I couldn’t sleep, thinking of all those people sinking to the dark depths of the sea
Destroying smugglers’ boats was not a practical option to discourage migration, he believes. The boat he boarded in 2007 was constructed in the so-called “connection house” where the Libyan smuggler stowed away Mr Bah and other migrants.
Partly to blame, Mr Bah believes, are the surviving migrants who made it to Europe and wove misleading success stories which they would sell to their friends and family back in Africa. “If you don’t manage to make it in Europe, you’re considered stupid. So they give false information and say they have everything they want.
“They post pictures on Facebook of them in front of a luxurious car or a beautiful home, which would not even belong to them.
“They purposely do not say how hard it is to make ends meet – in Italy, many migrants end up sleeping outside. Or sometimes, they even go into drug trafficking.”
A conversation with sub-Saharans in detention centres reveals that they are mostly young, uneducated people hailing from remote African villages and not from cities, he points out.
“They leave home with the blessing and support of their families. I know of families who have sold their cows to finance their son’s trip, without knowing what they’re sending him into.
“They’d be desperate. Some would even be sick – hospitals don’t treat you if you can’t pay beforehand and the government doesn’t help. So they think: ‘I know I’ll die if I stay here, I don’t care if I die at sea.’”
He feels very sorry for the women – a lot of men take young women to Libya where they sell them, he says.
The apathy of African governments is something he feels strongly about. “They must take action and help fulfil their citizens’ needs. West African countries such as Niger and Mali should also have their borders secured. Travelling people should be asked for their address and should be checked for one-way tickets. Such border control is possible – it’s already been done to control the spread of Ebola.”
Education is key as it is the only thing which could help African citizens build a future for them and thier countries. “Africa is losing its engine, its youth. To stop migration, every migrant must be involved – both those in Europe as well as those in Africa,” he said.