A Daring Voyage Turns Deadly
At least 69 fatalities and several dozens of others are still missing after a packed migrant boat sank off the coast of Mauritania early this week. The boat, which embarked from The Gambia almost a week ago with an estimated 160 passengers, the majority of whom were Gambian and Senegalese nationals, turned over late Tuesday evening after passengers caught sight of the lights in a coastal town. Migrants swamped to one side of the wooden canoe, and it capsized about 60 km north of the capital, Nouakchott, coastguard officials said.
Seventeen people were rescued by Mauritania’s coastguard, but continuing search operations indicate that the number of fatalities could be higher. Rescue crews are organizing dives to examine the wrecked boat, which coastguards are calling one of the deadliest accidents of the summer migration season.
Europe’s Canary Route: A Fatal Stakes Game
For most West African migrants, the Atlantic crossing to Spain’s Canary Islands is a route taken by many, but also a perilous one to Europe. Almost 47,000 migrants arrived in the Canary Islands in 2023, but thousands did not survive. Caminando Fronteras, a Spanish non-governmental organization, puts the number of migrants who lost their lives on the attempt last year at over 9,000. Powerful ocean currents, unsafe wooden vessels, and harsh conditions make the journey one of the world’s most dangerous migration routes.
Helen Maleno of Caminando Fronteras called the Mauritania tragedy “one of the worst tragedies of this summer,” calling for authorities to resume search and recovery efforts without delay.
Human Rights Concerns in Mauritania
The incident follows barely a week after Human Rights Watch published a 142-page report charging Mauritanian security forces with widespread abuses against migrants. The report claimed prolonged restraints, inadequate provision of food and water, and other ill-treatment, asserting that these abuses increased with the signing of a €210 million EU-funded agreement in 2024 aimed at stemming the flow of migrants.
Although Mauritania’s government has not yet reacted, the report has stirred controversy among humanitarian and political circles. Human rights groups hold that European funding from outside is encouraging tighter crackdowns, driving migrants to attempt even more perilous journeys over the Atlantic.
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A Cycle of Risk and Desperation
Despite the risks, the dangerous trip goes on for so many in flight from poverty and instability in West Africa. The new tragedy raises again questions regarding the migration policy of Europe and the human price of deterrence policy. For the survivors, the end of the journey has come with unimaginable loss, and for families throughout Senegal and Gambia, waiting goes on.
