What's happened
A fishing boat capsized off Mbour, Senegal, on September 8, 2024, resulting in at least 37 confirmed deaths among the 89 passengers. The incident highlights the increasing perilous journeys undertaken by migrants from West Africa seeking to reach Europe amid rising conflict and poverty in the region.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to The Independent, the Senegalese navy has confirmed that at least 37 people died in the capsizing incident, with only three survivors found. The tragedy underscores the dangers faced by migrants attempting to reach Europe via the Atlantic route. Al Jazeera reported that the boat was carrying over 100 people and capsized shortly after departure, highlighting the perilous conditions of such journeys. The New York Times noted that similar incidents have occurred in the Mediterranean, where many migrants also face life-threatening situations. The situation reflects a broader crisis of migration from Africa, driven by conflict and economic hardship, as reported by multiple sources.
How we got here
The Atlantic route from West Africa to Europe has become increasingly dangerous, with many migrants fleeing conflict, poverty, and unemployment. Recent statistics show a surge in crossings to the Canary Islands, with over 22,300 arrivals reported this year, a 126% increase from 2023.
More on these topics
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The Canary Islands, also known informally as the Canaries, are a Spanish archipelago and the southernmost autonomous community of Spain located in the Atlantic Ocean, in a region known as Macaronesia, 100 kilometres west of Morocco at the closest point.
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Senegal, officially the Republic of Senegal, is a country in West Africa. Senegal is bordered by Mauritania in the north, Mali to the east, Guinea to the southeast, and Guinea-Bissau to the southwest.
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Dakar is the capital and largest city of Senegal. The city of Dakar proper has a population of 1,030,594, whereas the population of the Dakar metropolitan area is estimated at 2.45 million.
The area around Dakar was settled in the 15th century.
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West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of Africa. The United Nations defines Western Africa as the 16 countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, N