A migrant boat sank off the coast of northwestern Senegal, resulting in the deaths of at least 39 people. The incident occurred on a perilous Atlantic Ocean route from Africa to Europe, where thousands of people have died in recent years. The boat, described as a pirogue-type flat-bottom vessel, capsized on Friday off the Loumpoul dunes in Kebemer department, between Dakar and the northern city of Saint-Louis.
Initial reports from the Senegalese interior ministry stated that 21 bodies and one survivor had been recovered, but the numbers were provisional as the search continued. Later updates from the Senegalese Press Agency (APS) and Action for Human Rights and Friendship (ADHA) confirmed that the toll had risen to at least 34, and then to 35, with one survivor. An indeterminate number of people were reported missing.
The nationalities of all the victims had not been confirmed as the search continued. However, Saliou Diouf, founder of Senegal's main migrant aid association Boza Fii, stated that the bodies recovered were Senegalese. The incident has prompted a response from Senegal's President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who wrote on Facebook that all state authorities and resources had been mobilised to locate those who have gone missing, provide care for the survivors, and support families.
The Atlantic Ocean route from Africa to Europe is a treacherous one, with thousands of people attempting to reach Spain's Canary Islands each year. Senegalese authorities have intercepted 142 migrants on a similar small boat aiming to reach Spain, including 23 women, two babies, and two other children, from Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, and Nigeria.
Senegal's interior ministry has stressed its determination to combat people smuggling networks, notably through strengthened cooperation with neighbouring countries. The country's interior minister would visit the region where the accident happened to meet families of the victims and express condolences on behalf of the state.
The surge in migrant boat arrivals has also affected Spanish authorities, who declared an emergency on the Canary Island of El Hierro after a surge in arrivals. Since the start of November, El Hierro authorities reported that more than 3,300 people had arrived aboard around 30 boats. Senegal, Mauritania, and Morocco have stepped up maritime patrols around departure points for small boats.
The incident highlights the ongoing challenges and dangers faced by migrants attempting to reach Europe via the Atlantic Ocean route. The international community continues to grapple with the complexities of migration, and efforts to address the root causes of migration and provide safe and legal pathways for migrants remain ongoing.
Key points
- At least 39 people killed in migrant boat sinking off Senegal.
- The incident occurred on a perilous Atlantic Ocean route from Africa to Europe.
- Senegalese authorities have intercepted 142 migrants on a similar small boat aiming to reach Spain.
