Senegal boat disaster kills 39 migrants
Search operations continue for more victims after a pirogue carrying irregular migration hopefuls sank off Lompoul.
A pirogue carrying hopefuls for irregular migration sank off Lompoul, in the Kébémer department, killing 39 people and leaving one survivor. Four more bodies were found Monday morning in advanced decomposition, bringing the total to 39. Search teams have been mobilized for three days along a 25-kilometer coastal stretch, hampered by difficult access and strong currents that are pushing bodies south.
Of the 39 victims, 24 bodies have been identified and returned to their families, while 11 remain unidentified. A collective funeral prayer was held by firefighters before the burials. The Minister of Interior and Public Security visited the site to assess the situation and the ongoing search operations. An investigation has been opened, and fuel canisters were seized as part of the inquiry.
The Alliance des Forces de Progrès (AFP) party called for a transparent investigation into the circumstances of the shipwreck and demanded a national youth policy with clear funding and evaluation. The party stated that the tragedy highlights persistent gaps in public policies for youth, driven by unemployment and lack of prospects, pushing young people to risk their lives.