At least 21 people have died after a boat carrying migrants sank off the coast of Senegal, the interior ministry said on Sunday. In a statement posted on X, the ministry said authorities had rescued one survivor and recovered 21 bodies as of Saturday evening.
The ministry said the tragedy occurred off Kebemer, a town about 180 km north of Dakar, the capital of the West African state. Search and rescue operations were still under way as authorities looked for possible additional survivors. The statement said the boat was carrying people seeking to migrate irregularly, but it did not say how many people were on board.
Search for more survivors off Kebemer continues
A separate statement from the Minister of the Interior and Public Security expressed deep sorrow and condolences to the families of the victims. It said state services had been mobilised to continue the search, assist any survivors and support grieving families.
The minister is scheduled to travel to the site on Monday, 9 November, to convey the government’s compassion and solidarity to the families and affected communities, the statement said.
Government vows to confront smuggling networks
The government said it was determined to fight networks that smuggle migrants, including through closer cooperation with neighbouring countries. It also called for vigilance about the dangers of irregular migration.
The statement reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the integration of young people, which it presented as part of efforts to address the pressures that drive irregular departures.
Canary Islands route remains deadly for migrants
Senegal’s coast is one of the main departure points for thousands of migrants seeking to reach the European Union. Thousands of people have died in recent years while attempting to reach Spain’s Canary Islands from West Africa.
According to migrant rights group Walking Borders, 635 people died on that route in the first five months of this year alone.
Figures cited by a news agency showed that more than 22,000 migrants had reached the Canary Islands by September 2024. That was more than double the number recorded over the same period a year earlier.
