Nearly 40 Feared Dead as MV MJP Ship Sinks in Lake Tanganyika

A maritime disaster has struck Lake Tanganyika, with the MV MJP ship sinking on Thursday, September 24, 2026, while traveling from Tanzania to the Democratic Republic of Congo. The vessel, flying a DRC flag, had nearly 90 people on board, including passengers and crew, although some reports suggest it may have carried over 100 persons. The ship capsized and sank near the shoreline of Mapera Village on the coast of Kabimba within the territorial side of DR Congo.

The cause of the accident is yet to be determined, but there are reports of turbulent weather conditions affecting Lake Tanganyika of late. Additionally, some observers suggest that the ship may have been overloaded. The MV MJP ship had just left the Kigoma Port in Tanzania and was sailing towards Kalemie in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The incident has raised concerns about safety measures and regulations on Lake Tanganyika.

So far, 36 passengers have been rescued from the waters, with little to no injuries. However, at least 40 people are missing, and many are feared dead. The DR Congo's Provincial Minister of the Environment, Transport, Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technologies, Norris Mulongoy Mutamba, has deployed several search teams to trace the missing persons in the lake.

The accident highlights the issue of overloading and lack of adherence to ship manifests on Lake Tanganyika. A resident of Kigoma explained that ships and large boats often pick up people along the way from canoes or speedboats, and these additional passengers are not always accounted for in the ship's manifest. This makes it difficult to determine the exact number of people on board.

The MV MJP ship was not only carrying passengers but also cargo, and it continued to pick up more en-route. This incident is the second to occur on Lake Tanganyika within just one week. On September 18, 2026, a privately owned vessel, HB-YESU NI KIMBILIO, sank while making a cross-border trip from Kigoma, Tanzania, to the port of Kazimia in the Democratic Republic of Congo, leaving ten people missing.

The Tanzanian and DRC governments are working together to respond to the disaster. Search teams are scouring the lake to find the missing persons. The incident has raised concerns about safety regulations and enforcement on Lake Tanganyika, which is the deepest lake in Africa.

The investigation into the cause of the accident is ongoing. The incident has sparked outrage and concern among local communities and international authorities.

Key points

• At least 40 people are missing and feared dead.
• The ship had nearly 90 people on board, including passengers and crew.
• This is the second incident to occur on Lake Tanganyika within just one week.