Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The United Democratic Party (UDP) has called for an urgent national dialogue following reports that at least 190 Gambians have died in the Atlantic Ocean while attempting irregular migration, describing the situation as a national tragedy rooted in deep-seated governance and economic failures.

Speaking at the party’s end-of-year press conference, UDP Party Leader and Secretary General Ousainou Darboe said the continued loss of young lives on dangerous migration routes underscores a growing sense of hopelessness among Gambian youth.

“Can we imagine the potential that has been lost?” Darboe asked. “How many doctors, farmers, engineers, and productive citizens were among those who died at sea? These were young people with dreams, determination, and a desire to return and build their country.”

Darboe argued that the migration crisis cannot be reduced to individual choice alone but is instead a direct outcome of unemployment, poor governance, rising living costs, and limited economic opportunity. He dismissed government claims that sufficient jobs have been created, noting that the persistent flow of migrants is itself evidence of the lack of meaningful employment.

The UDP leader urged President Adama Barrow to convene a comprehensive national conference involving political parties, civil society organizations, youth groups, and other key stakeholders to address the root causes of irregular migration.

“This is not a two-hour discussion,” Darboe said. “It is a national emergency that affects every family in this country. Our labour force is being destroyed, and our future is being buried in the ocean.”

He further called for round-the-clock coastal surveillance and strengthened maritime patrols to disrupt human smuggling networks, while stressing that any enforcement measures must respect human rights and protect vulnerable young people from exploitation by traffickers.

According to Darboe, only a government that places job creation, education, agriculture, and healthcare at the center of its development agenda can reverse the dangerous trend. He warned that without decisive and coordinated action, The Gambia will continue to lose its most valuable resource; its people.