Tears of Uncertainty: Families of Missing Guinean Migrants Cry Out for Justice

In the West African nation of Guinea, a devastating crisis has unfolded, leaving thousands of families in a state of despair. The disappearance of their loved ones, mostly young migrants, has become a recurring theme, with many never to be heard from again. Abdoul Aziz Balde, a father from Conakry, is just one of the many who are searching for answers. His son, Idrissa, left Guinea in 2023, chasing a better future, but was never seen again after his boat capsized off the Moroccan coast. 'I know the boat sank, but we haven't found his body, so I just don't know if he's dead or alive,' a heartbroken Balde said. The Guinean Organisation for the Fight Against Irregular Migration (OGLMI) estimates that out of 100 migrants who leave, at least 10 will never return. The organisation has been working tirelessly to help families of missing migrants, collaborating with aid associations worldwide. With the support of OGLMI, families are able to connect with each other, share information, and search for their loved ones. But the task is daunting. Between 2014 and 2025, the International Organisation for Migration's Missing Migrants Project reported at least 33,220 migrants died or went missing in the Mediterranean and 17,768 in Africa. The figures are likely underestimated, with the Spanish NGO Caminando Fronteras recording 10,457 people dead or missing at sea on the western European-Africa border in 2024 alone. The silence is deafening, and the pain is palpable. 'We feel abandoned,' said Abdoulaye Diallo, a father who lost his son, Abdou Karim, two years ago. 'There is no shame in being the parent of a missing migrant, but there is a sense of helplessness.' OGLMI's executive director, Elhadj Mohamed Diallo, echoed these sentiments, saying, 'People have been missing for a long time, but the issue has never been discussed at the civil society, government, or international institution level.' The search for answers continues, with OGLMI working to identify and locate missing migrants. But the journey is long and arduous, and the families of the missing are left to pick up the pieces. 'These families must be helped to grieve,' said OGLMI's Diallo. 'We must not forget all these missing people.'