Immigration tragedy in Lompoul: The climate of imprecise governance in the dock

The tragedy of migration routes has once again struck the Senegalese coast. A pirogue carrying migrants capsized last week off the coast of Lompoul (Kébémer). The provisional death toll stands at 39, with one survivor and several people still missing.

In a statement, the Senegalese section of the International Society for Human Rights (SIDH-Senegal) expressed its deep sadness and serious concern over this tragic event, offering its support to the families of the victims plunged into anguish and pain.

SIDH-Senegal firmly reiterates that the right to life, dignity and security constitutes a fundamental obligation that must be protected in all circumstances.

"The disappearance of these would-be immigrants must be considered a human tragedy that deeply challenges our collective conscience and calls for concrete and lasting responses," argues the organization, which remains convinced that "young people must be able to envision their future with dignity, hope and security, without being forced to risk their lives at sea."

Governance and restrictive policies are being singled out.

Analyzing the root causes of this tragedy, SIDH-Senegal denounces the inadequacy of the national policies proposed so far. Even worse, according to them, these policies are implemented in a context of "high unemployment and poverty," but also in a "climate of imprecise governance."

The organization also points to the responsibility of the international community, stating that migration restrictions dictated by security and sovereignty policies only exacerbate the vulnerability of people on the move and often compromise the human rights of migrants, "even if they are illegal."

Furthermore, SIDH-Senegal considers smuggling networks "to be veritable criminal enterprises, directly responsible for shipwrecks, extortion, and violence against migrants." Consequently, it demands that "the full truth be revealed about the exact circumstances of this tragedy."