Environ 150 migrants meurent en mer alors qu'ils se dirigeaient de la Gambie vers les Canaries

Around 150 migrants died at sea while attempting to reach the Canary Islands from The Gambia, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The incident involves a wooden boat that departed from the Gambian town of Bafuloto on June 28, carrying approximately 200 people. The vessel was later found adrift near the Mauritanian coastal town of Nuadibú on July 18, with 38 survivors onboard, two of whom died after being rescued. The boat had been flagged as missing since July 11, when social media users first raised concerns. Authorities in Mauritania located the vessel in critical condition, without functioning engines, with just one gasoline canister and no GPS equipment. Among the 38 survivors were 34 adult males, two women, and two children. Of these, 28 were from Senegal, eight from The Gambia, one from Guinea-Conakry, and one from Ivory Coast. However, a Senegalese man named Souleymane Jallow and his Gambian companion, who were traveling with four family members, died shortly after rescue. Initial reports suggest the boat set off from a river tributary near Bafuloto around midnight on June 28. It appears the vessel suffered some kind of mechanical failure roughly a week later, leaving the migrants stranded at sea for over two weeks. Conditions aboard likely deteriorated rapidly, with limited food and water supplies. In similar incidents, bodies are often thrown overboard as they perish, contributing to the high number of missing persons. According to UNHCR, the two children rescued are recovering in Nuadibú’s hospital along with other survivors. Ebrima Drameh, a Gambian activist, wrote an open letter to authorities condemning the tragedy. He emphasized that such deaths often go unnoticed compared to crimes committed on land, which dominate media coverage. “This is a national crisis that demands urgent action,” he stated. “Behind each number is a child, a sibling, a friend, and a family whose lives have been forever altered.” In a statement, UNHCR noted that despite ongoing efforts by coast guards and humanitarian organizations, the Atlantic route between West Africa and the Canary Islands remains among the deadliest globally. Factors include vast distances, unpredictable ocean conditions, unsafe vessels, and delayed rescue operations. As of July 15, 4,400 individuals arrived in the Canary Islands through irregular maritime routes, a 61% decrease from 2025. This decline is largely attributed to increased surveillance in Mauritania and Senegal, where border controls have significantly reduced departures from these countries. Over the past year and a half, few boats have left these areas, but many are intercepted in waters further south. This has shifted departure points toward The Gambia and, to a lesser extent, Guinea-Conakry, making the journey to the Canary Islands more perilous due to longer travel distances. Authorities continue to monitor the situation, though the exact cause of the vessel's malfunction remains under investigation. Survivors are receiving medical attention, and families of the deceased are being supported. The incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by migrants seeking safer shores, underscoring the need for improved safety measures and international cooperation to prevent future tragedies.