Dakar Tragedy: 15 Migrants Perish as Boat Capsize in Risky Voyage to Europe

The Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts bear witness to another sorrowful incident as, on July 24, 2023, a boat capsize, taking at least 15 lives with it. The tragic event occurred off the coast of Dakar, Senegal, and involved a boat brimming with migrants and refugees seeking a better life in Europe. A report from Al Jazeera delves deeper into the dreadful episode, marking it as the latest tragedy in a series of hazardous sea voyages embarked upon by desperate refugees.

President Macky Sall of Senegal expressed profound grief in his statement: “I express my deep sorrow following the death of around fifteen Senegalese people following the sinking of a pirogue (a long wooden boat) off the coast of Dakar. My heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims.”

Following the heartbreaking boat capsize, the Senegalese Navy was swift to recover the bodies. Based on the type of vessel – a pirogue – and other evidence, Ndeye Top Gueye, the deputy mayor of Dakar’s Ouakam neighborhood, confirmed that the deceased were likely migrants. “Because of the size and shape, we know that it’s a pirogue,” Gueye stated.

Although this incident marked the first time victims have washed ashore in the Ouakam area, Gueye expressed her concern over the increasing number of maritime fatalities involving migrants. The recent rise in these tragic events puts a spotlight on the larger issue of migrant boat capsizing, a problem that’s been escalating in Senegal and the broader West African region.

Reports from Senegal have highlighted an alarming trend of increasing numbers of migrant boats attempting the dangerous voyage across the Atlantic to Spain’s Canary Islands. Despite the widely acknowledged perils of this route, the incidents of attempted crossings haven’t waned, with people taking advantage of the warmer weather to embark on these risky journeys. In fact, as recent as July 13, the Senegalese Navy intercepted a boat carrying approximately 70 migrants undertaking this perilous trip. This episode marked the third documented crossing attempt in July 2023.

Across the Middle East and North Africa, similar dangerous maritime routes are often the only available option for those desperate to find refuge in Europe. Many resort to using unstable dinghy boats, further compounding the risks involved. According to the International Organization for Migration, an astounding number of nearly 3,800 people lost their lives on these treacherous migration routes in 2022 alone. This figure represents the highest recorded loss since 2017 when 4,255 fatalities were documented.

The persistent increase in tragedies such as the boat capsizing off Dakar’s coast points to an urgent need for safer migration routes and stronger international cooperation. As the global community, we must seek to address the underlying issues that drive these risky voyages and strive to prevent such calamities in the future.