Inquiétude au Sénégal et Gambie, sans nouvelles d'une pirogue transportant plusieurs centaines de migrants
Several hundred West African migrants, including many from villages in Senegal, who embarked more than a month ago in a pirogue from the coasts of Gambia to try to reach Spain, have not been heard from since, AFP learned Friday from migration actors in Senegal.
Thousands of people from West Africa, mostly young people, have been attempting clandestine migration for years from the coasts of their countries, taking the perilous Atlantic route to reach Europe, mainly via the Spanish Canary Islands, aboard overcrowded and often dilapidated boats.
The recent strengthening of maritime controls in Senegal, Mauritania and Morocco has led to clandestine canoe departures to the Canary Islands shifting southward, particularly from the coasts of Gambia and Guinea-Conakry, further lengthening the time spent at sea and its dangers.
The pirogue, which had not been heard from for more than a month, left the Gambian town of Djinack (north) on December 5 with some "300 people on board including Senegalese, Gambians, Malians and Guineans", Omar Diop, a spokesman for the "Boza Fii" association, based in Senegal and committed to helping migrants and families of missing migrants, told AFP on Friday.
"We received information about the departure of the pirogue on December 27 and launched the search" by informing actors who rescue migrants in distress at sea, said Mr. Diop.
The boat was carrying "more than 200 people" who were trying to reach Spain, Cheikh Mamour Bâ, a resident of the fishing village of Fass-Boye in western Senegal, told AFP.
Many of the pirogue's passengers, including "a woman in her thirties, mother of six children", are, according to him, from villages near Fass-Boye.
The lack of news from the pirogue's passengers was reported by families with relatives on board, said Mamadou Guèye Thioune, a member of a Senegalese government committee for combating irregular migration. Many West African migrants were on the boat, he added, citing these families.
In search of a better future and at the risk of their lives, many African exiles are forced to take the clandestine route, as Europe has drastically restricted the issuance of visas and is increasingly controlling its borders.
Thousands of people have died or gone missing trying to reach Europe in this way in recent years.
Commentaires (12)
La nuit c'est comme si tous les diables font la Bamboula...
You hallucinate and hear some strange sounds. j'etais Commando Marin, I know, Parfois tu entends le Coran et personne n'y est. c'est un mirage.
Good luck when there is moon light.
c'est de la folie a lier.
Tous les etres sur Terre sont dans l'Ocean. C'est dans la penombre qu'ils sagissent et font l'amour.
c'est dingue!!!!
Good rid of you Suicidals
Je voulais apporter une correction à l'information que vous avez publiée aujourd'hui. J'ai été informé le 25 décembre et non le 27 décembre qu'une pirogue avait quitté Djinack en Gambie le 05 décembre et qu'on est toujours sans nouvelles des occupants.
Cordialement,
Omar Diop boza fii alarmphone
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