Alieu Manneh’s journey began with hope, bolstered by his mother’s support. “She was my only sponsor,” he recalled with a heavy heart, “and she sacrificed everything for me.” Alieu described the terror that struck when, shortly into his journey, he was kidnapped by agents in Mali. Alongside other Gambians, he was threatened with guns and forced to surrender the little money and belongings they carried. “We thought these agents would guide us to safety,” he said, “but they betrayed us, taking everything.”
After enduring three years on the backway, Alieu finally returned to Gambia—only to face another devastating blow: his mother had passed away in his absence. The loss of his mother weighed on him deeply, as he reflected on the sacrifices she made, even selling the family’s land to fund his journey. “I came home to nothing. My mother was gone, and so was the land she fought to keep for us.”
Alieu’s journey also witnessed countless tragedies along the way. He vividly recalled the night that two of his Gambian brothers were thrown into the river, victims of brutal decisions made during their boat crossing.
He also described how several other travelers, seemingly lost in the middle of the sea, disappeared under mysterious circumstances. “People would just vanish,” he said, “and no one knew where they went. We all suffered, and so few made it out alive.”
He reflected on the journey that cost him over 100,000 dalasis and the loss of his family’s 20x20 plot of land, Alieu expressed his deep regret. With a voice filled with sorrow, he urged his fellow Gambians to abandon the “back way” route, describing it as a path paved with danger and heartbreak.
Today, Alieu struggles to rebuild his life, longing for stability and a fresh start. He appeals to the government for support in establishing a small business, hoping to find a way to sustain himself and regain a sense of purpose after all he has endured. “I want to stand on my own feet again,” he says, holding onto the hope that his story might prevent others from facing the same fate.
