Migrant boat sinks off Senegal, killing at least 34 people

A migrant boat sank off the coast of Senegal, resulting in the deaths of at least 34 people, according to authorities. The boat, a pirogue-type flat-bottom vessel, capsized on Friday off the Loumpoul dunes in Kebemer department, between Dakar and Saint-Louis. The nationalities of the victims have not been confirmed, but the bodies recovered are Senegalese.

The Senegalese interior ministry initially reported 21 bodies and one survivor, but the toll later rose to 34, confirmed by Action for Human Rights and Friendship (ADHA). An indeterminate number of people are still missing. The search is ongoing, with Senegalese authorities and resources mobilized to locate those missing, provide care for the survivor, and support families.

Senegal's President Bassirou Diomaye Faye vowed to crack down on people organizing the risky voyages. He stated that no one should set out with the sea as their only horizon and that the state will relentlessly continue the fight against those who organize these crossings. The president's statement came as thousands of people from West Africa attempt to reach Europe on the perilous Atlantic route each year.

On Friday, Senegalese authorities intercepted 142 migrants on a small boat aiming to reach Spain. The group consisted of 23 women, two babies, and two other children from Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, and Nigeria. The interior ministry stressed its determination to combat people smuggling networks through strengthened cooperation with neighboring countries.

The incident highlights the risks faced by migrants on the Atlantic route, with thousands having died in recent years trying to reach Spain's Canary Islands from West Africa. Senegal, Mauritania, and Morocco have stepped up maritime patrols around departure points, forcing small boats to head further south towards the coasts of Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, and Guinea.

Spanish authorities on the Canary Island of El Hierro declared an emergency on Saturday after a surge in migrant boat arrivals, with over 3,300 people arriving on around 30 boats since the start of November. The Senegalese interior minister will visit the region to meet families of the victims and express condolences on behalf of the state.

The international community continues to grapple with the issue of migration, with many countries implementing measures to combat people smuggling networks and provide support to migrants. The incident serves as a reminder of the need for continued cooperation and efforts to address the root causes of migration.

Key points

• At least 34 people died when a migrant boat sank off Senegal's coast.
• The boat capsized on Friday off the Loumpoul dunes in Kebemer department.
• Senegalese authorities have mobilized resources to locate those missing and support families.