Senegalese fishermen located a drifting boat about 70 kilometers from Dakar, the capital of Senegal, on Sunday, which contained at least 30 decomposing bodies. It is believed that these are migrants who were trying to reach the Canary Islands and set off from somewhere on the coast weeks ago, given their state. Authorities have opened an investigation to determine the origin of the boat and the identity of the deceased. This is the second fatal incident related to migration this month in Senegal, following the shipwreck on September 8 that claimed the lives of around 40 migrants.Notified by the fishermen, the boat was towed by the Senegalese Navy’s patrol boat, Cayor, to the port of Dakar, where it arrived on Monday morning. Once at the dock, a team of doctors, firefighters, and members of the public health service carried out the tasks of recovering and transferring the remains to land, operations that were “very delicate due to the advanced state of decomposition of the bodies”.
Although the origin of the bodies has not yet been determined, residents of the coastal town of Mbour, about 100 kilometers south of Dakar, have been reporting the disappearance of a boat that set sail with 200 people on board in mid-August and have not been heard from since. Many fear that this could be the same boat. Mbour was the scene of a tragedy on September 8 when a boat with around 90 people on board heading towards the Canary Islands capsized just a few kilometers off the coast. The boat capsized due to overcrowding and only 24 people survived, who were rescued by local fishermen. In the following days, 39 bodies were found, leaving at least 25 people still missing. Among the deceased are Senegalese, Guineans, and Gambians, according to sources of the investigation.
This shipwreck had a huge impact in Senegal, prompting the country’s President, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, to travel to Mbour to offer condolences to the victims’ families and announce the creation of a toll-free number for citizens to report the organizers of these journeys. Over the weekend, a hundred people participated in a silent march through the streets of Mbour in memory of the deceased and against irregular migration, although many young people are still willing to risk their lives to reach the Canary Islands. The hope generated by the political change in Senegal in March, following the opposition’s victory in the elections, slowed down the departures of boats from its shores to some extent, but has not fully stopped them.
The lack of opportunities and employment, the crisis in artisanal fishing, political corruption, the success of those who are already in Europe, and the impossibility of migrating through legal means are still the main reasons cited by young people for embarking on the dangerous route to the Canary Islands. Senegal is also a departure point for citizens from other countries, especially Mali, Gambia, and Guinea. The situation is distressing and is affecting those closest to it the most. To stay updated, subscribe to read more.
