KÉDOUGOU, SENEGAL — Between August 2024 and June 2025, the Kédougou region witnessed a powerful demonstration of resilience and cross-border coordination in the fight against human trafficking and exploitation. In a series of 11 operations, 20 survivors escaped exploitation and were supported with a comprehensive continuum of care—long after the formal conclusion of an earlier anti-exploitation program in the region.
Sustained Action Beyond Program End
The operations, led by the National Division for the Fight against Migrant Smuggling and Associated Practices (DNLT), in partnership with the Kédougou Health District, the Gendarmerie, Nigerian community leaders, and local Community Vigilance Committees (CVCs), took place across multiple high-risk communities including Kolya, Sekoto, Khossanto, Mouran, Bantaco, and Bembou. Survivors were referred to La Lumière Shelter for immediate protection and support—proof of a durable system of vigilance and coordination among national and local stakeholders.
Healing, Dignity, and Preparedness for Reintegration
At La Lumière Shelter, survivors received holistic care supported by the Irish Embassy in Senegal, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and UNFPA. Psychosocial counseling, safe accommodations, and attentive case management helped ensure survivors’ safety and emotional recovery in the aftermath of exploitation.
Cross-Border Repatriation and Empowerment in Nigeria
On June 17, 2025, Free the Slaves coordinated the survivors’ repatriation to Nigeria in collaboration with the Nigerian Embassy. Upon arrival in Lagos, survivors were received by our partner, the Emmanuel World Child foundation (EWCF), and transported to a shelter in Ondo State. Over the next four days, they participated in tailored life skills training—including financial literacy, entrepreneurship, personal hygiene, emotional resilience, and suicide prevention. Survivors were also assisted with registering for Nigeria’s National Identity Number (NIN) and issued SIM cards to support communication and reintegration.
Centering Survivor Wellbeing and Rights
Throughout every stage of this process, Free the Slaves and our partners prioritized the dignity, agency, and individualized needs of each survivor. Clothing kits and mobile phones were distributed to restore a sense of ownership and connection. On June 21, 18 survivors safely returned to their communities, while two remained in care pending specialized support: a young girl with mental health needs and a woman living with speech and cognitive disabilities.
A Blueprint for Cross-Border Solidarity
This initiative stands as a model of sustained, survivor-centered coordination across borders. It reflects what is possible when governments, civil society, and international partners work in concert to dismantle systems of exploitation—and to rebuild lives rooted in dignity, rights, and opportunity.
