Risk-taking in unauthorised migration

The document analyzes the emergence of the 'pirogue route' from West Africa to the Canary Islands as a response to increased border security in the Strait of Gibraltar. Through fieldwork in Senegal, the author argues that migrants' decisions to undertake these perilous journeys are not based on misinformation, but are rationalized through a complex interplay of socio-economic vulnerability, cultural notions of manhood, religious beliefs regarding destiny, and a perception that remaining in Senegal constitutes a greater risk than the journey itself. The paper concludes that restrictive border measures, such as patrolling and repatriation, are often ineffective or counter-productive, as they may drive migrants toward even longer and more dangerous routes.

• The pirogue migration route from West Africa to the Canary Islands emerged in 2006 as a direct result of increased border control and surveillance along the Strait of Gibraltar and the borders of Ceuta and Melilla.
• Pirogue migration is perceived by some sub-Saharan migrants as a safer and more realistic alternative than trans-Saharan land routes to North Africa, which involve crossing deserts and facing high bribes or danger from the Polisario.
• Socio-economic stagnation in Senegal leads young men to view remaining at home as a form of risk-taking or 'social death,' making the dangers of the sea journey acceptable by comparison.
• The decision to migrate by pirogue is heavily influenced by cultural constructions of manhood, where the act is seen as a courageous 'rite de passage' to restore dignity and the role of provider.
• Religious beliefs, particularly the deterministic view that death is decided by God, reduce the fear of dying during the journey and frame the attempt as a morally acceptable sacrifice.
• Migrants do not simply lack risk information; they actively filter it, often dismissing official awareness campaigns as biased or irrelevant because the sources (such as wealthy celebrities or government officials) are seen as disconnected from their reality.
• Fishermen and members of the Lébou community use their familiarity with the sea to create a sense of 'illusory control,' believing their skills make them less vulnerable to the risks than non-fishermen.
• Migrants employ specific risk-minimization strategies, including the use of GPS devices, careful timing based on weather forecasts, and spiritual protection through amulets and marabouts.
• Repatriation is perceived as a more significant deterrent than sea patrols, as it represents a personal failure and a return to a state of social immobility.
• Restrictive border policies may be counter-productive by forcing migrants to adopt longer, more dangerous routes, which contradicts the stated humanitarian goals of agencies like Frontex and SIVE.
• Legal alternatives, such as Spain's 'hiring at the origin' scheme, are viewed more favorably than local government initiatives like Senegal's Plan REVA, though the former is plagued by rumors of corruption and nepotism.

APA

Carretero, M. H. (2008). Risk-taking in unauthorised migration. Peace Research Institute Oslo. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/97efca0c-9905-46aa-afa6-01ba645be13e/Carreterro Master.pdf?inline=true

Chicago

Carretero, María Hernández. Risk-taking in unauthorised migration. Peace Research Institute Oslo, 2008. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/97efca0c-9905-46aa-afa6-01ba645be13e/Carreterro Master.pdf?inline=true.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Carretero |first1=María Hernández |title=Risk-taking in unauthorised migration |publisher=Peace Research Institute Oslo |date=2008 |url=https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/97efca0c-9905-46aa-afa6-01ba645be13e/Carreterro Master.pdf?inline=true |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{carretero2008risktaking, author = {Carretero, María Hernández}, title = {{Risk-taking in unauthorised migration}}, institution = {Peace Research Institute Oslo}, year = {2008}, url = {https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/97efca0c-9905-46aa-afa6-01ba645be13e/Carreterro Master.pdf?inline=true}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }