Santos Gatkuoth who illegally crossed to Europe - Courtesy

A 24-year-old South Sudanese man who illegally crossed to Europe in 2019 narrated how he suffered and almost died in the Mediterranean Sea.

Santo Gatkuoth is now advising fellow citizens not to use the deadly Mediterranean Sea to cross to Europe.

The native of Upper Nile region left South Sudan for Sudan, Chad and Libya before crossing to the Mediterranean Sea to pursue his dream of going to the Netherlands.

In search for a better life, many migrants cross from Africa to Europe through what has been referred to as the “deadliest border in the world:”

Santo spent four days on the sea, a decision he regretted after experiencing numerous challenges on the way.

Gatkuoth says he lost many of his friends on the way, an experience that he wouldn’t like any other South Sudanese to undergo.

“My advice to my fellow South Sudanese, I could not encourage you to use that route because the route is not safe. You can use another way but not the Libya Route,” Gatkuoth told Eye Radio on Monday via phone from the Netherlands in Europe.

“I have gone through a lot of circumstances during the journey. A lot of things happened and I survived narrowly.

“I lost a lot of my friends on the Libya route and in the sea and that’s why I am advising them not to use that route ever. If someone has the dream of going to Europe then they should try to use safer ways.”

Last year, about 50 South Sudanese migrants reportedly drowned in the Mediterranean Sea while attempting to cross into Europe.

According to the International Organization for Migration, the number of people crossing has doubled in the first half of this year to an estimated 77,000.

In 2019, about 600 South Sudanese refugees were reportedly held at the Sudan-Libya border, after they tried to go on the “desperate journey.”

Thousands of Africans have died trying to reach Europe via the Mediterranean Sea, as they flee their countries due to conflict, human rights violations, persecution and poverty.

Gatkuoth explains more to Kafuka Jada in the following interview.