In the aftermath of a tragic boat accident off the coast of Mbour, Senegal, which resulted in the deaths of at least 37 people, Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has vowed to take strong action against those involved in people smuggling. During a visit to Mbour on Wednesday, President Faye addressed the heartbreaking event, stating his determination to severely punish the individuals responsible for organizing these dangerous journeys. He emphasized that those who engage in these deadly activities would be relentlessly pursued and face the harshest penalties.
Mbour, a coastal town about 80 kilometers south of Senegal’s capital Dakar, is a common starting point for many young Senegalese who attempt the perilous journey across the Atlantic Ocean to Europe. On Sunday, one such boat, or pirogue, set off from Mbour, but tragically capsized just a few kilometers offshore. President Faye revealed that there were 89 people aboard the vessel, but only three have survived, while at least 37 lives have been confirmed lost.
In his address to the community of Mbour, President Faye acknowledged the crucial role of young Senegalese in the nation’s future and stressed the need to provide them with meaningful opportunities within the country. He underscored the importance of ensuring that the Atlantic Ocean does not continue to claim the lives of Senegal’s youth. His promise is to create real, dignified prospects for the youth at home, reducing the need for such dangerous voyages.
The search for additional bodies is ongoing, with the French Navy assisting in the efforts. Meanwhile, the captain and owner of the pirogue have already been arrested after surrendering to authorities. The increase in migration from West Africa, particularly from Senegal, is driven by various factors, including poverty, unemployment, and conflict. Many migrants use Senegal as a departure point in their quest to reach Europe via the Canary Islands, a Spanish territory off the coast of West Africa.
Efforts by the Senegalese government to combat people smuggling have been ramped up in recent months. Just last month, the Senegalese army arrested 453 migrants and members of smuggling networks during a 12-day patrol of the coastline. The operation saw more than half of those arrested being Senegalese nationals. Despite these efforts, dangerous journeys across the Atlantic persist, with the route to the Canary Islands being considered one of the deadliest in the world. Many boats, like the one that capsized in Mauritania in July, either sink or go missing, leaving hundreds of migrants unaccounted for each year. Some boats are later found drifting in distant locations, often with no survivors aboard.