A prominent human rights group in Senegal has formally requested that the government initiate a parliamentary investigation following a tragic maritime incident that claimed at least 39 lives. The organization, Action for Human Rights and Friendship, also known as ADHA, highlighted the event in a public statement as a critical moment for accountability.
The disaster involved a small, flat-bottomed vessel that capsized off the coast of the West African nation. According to state media reports, the boat departed from Saint-Louis in the north of Senegal with the destination being the Spanish coast. It overturned near the Lompoul dunes in the Kebemer department, which is located approximately 180 kilometers, or 112 miles, north of the capital city, Dakar.
The incident occurred on Sunday, and initial reports indicated that 21 people had died. However, as emergency services continued their search and rescue operations, more bodies were recovered. This raised the death toll first to 34 and eventually to at least 39. While only one passenger was reported to have been rescued alive, several individuals are still believed to be missing from the vessel.
In its statement, ADHA expressed frustration with what it described as a lack of lasting results in efforts to reduce deaths among migrants at sea. The group noted that despite the announcement of 300,000 euros, roughly equivalent to 336,000 dollars, for the Navy and the training of more than 300 agents, the number of irregular arrivals to the Canaries continues to increase.
ADHA argued that it is no longer sufficient to simply deplore shipwrecks, announce new measures, and count interceptions. The organization believes that more substantive action is required to address the root causes of the crisis and to improve safety protocols for those undertaking dangerous sea crossings.
Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye responded to the tragedy by offering his condolences to the families of the victims. He pledged to intensify efforts to clamp down on the traffickers who are believed to be behind these hazardous journeys, signaling a commitment to addressing the logistical and human elements of the migration route.
The Ministry of the Interior and Public Security in Senegal confirmed in a statement that the boat was carrying people who were seeking to migrate irregularly. However, the ministry did not specify the exact number of individuals who were on board the vessel at the time of the sinking, leaving the total number of those affected somewhat uncertain.
This incident is part of a larger trend in the region. According to the migrant rights group Walking Borders, thousands of people have died in recent years while attempting to reach Spain's Canary Islands from West Africa. In the first five months of the current year alone, the group recorded 635 deaths in this specific route.
The pressure on Spanish authorities has also increased recently. On Saturday, officials on the Canary Island of El Hierro declared a state of emergency due to a significant surge in the number of migrant boats arriving at the island.
Authorities in El Hierro reported that more than 3,300 people had arrived on approximately 30 boats since the beginning of November. This influx has strained local resources and underscored the ongoing challenges facing both West African and Spanish governments in managing the migration crisis.
