The sinking of the "Joola": what the Memorial is preparing for the 24th commemoration

On the 24th anniversary of the sinking of the "Joola," Senegal is paying tribute to the 1,863 victims of the disaster. In an interview with Le Soleil, Sokhna Gaye Fall, administrator of the "Joola" Memorial, discusses the purpose of this memorial located in Ziguinchor.

The choice of Ziguinchor reflects a need for remembrance. The region alone accounts for 971 victims out of the 1,863 officially recorded. For Sokhna Gaye Fall, the Memorial must not be simply a place of reflection. It must also become a space for transmission and learning. "The Memorial thus transcends the simple function of a memorial sanctuary to become a true space for transmission and learning," she emphasizes.

Since its opening, the site has been gradually attracting foreign visitors. Between December 2025 and September 2026, nearly thirty nationalities visited. For the administrator, this visitor numbers confirm the Memorial's growing influence and its potential to contribute to the region's development.

For this 24th commemoration, the Memorial intends to give prominence to the list of victims' names, which until now has only been available online. Sokhna Gaye Fall also announced the continuation of the work of collecting and expanding the collections. The site already houses major artifacts, including the two propellers of the "Joola," which weigh approximately one ton each.

The goal now is to make the Memorial a true reference point on the history of the shipwreck. "To nurture this duty of remembrance and truth, our exhibition must continue to grow and be better documented," insists the interviewee from the national daily newspaper.