What's happened
A recent maritime tragedy off Madagascar has resulted in the deaths of 24 Somali migrants, with 48 survivors rescued. The group had been at sea for nearly a month, attempting to reach Mayotte from Mogadishu. Investigations are underway as Somalia prepares to repatriate its citizens.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to AP News, the Somali Foreign Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi confirmed that 46 people were rescued and emphasized the government's commitment to ensuring the survivors receive necessary care. The Independent reported that the boats left Mogadishu on November 2, highlighting the perilous conditions faced by migrants. Both sources reflect a growing concern over the rising number of irregular migrants from the region, with the U.N. previously raising alarms about the dangers associated with such journeys.
How we got here
The incident highlights the ongoing crisis of irregular migration from the Horn of Africa, where many young Somalis seek better opportunities abroad, often risking their lives in perilous journeys across the sea.
More on these topics
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Somalia, officially the Federal Republic of Somalia, is a sovereign country in the Horn of Africa. It is bordered by Ethiopia to the west, the Gulf of Aden to the north, the Guardafui Channel and Somali Sea to the east, and Kenya to the southwest.
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Madagascar, officially the Republic of Madagascar, and previously known as the Malagasy Republic, is an island country in the Indian Ocean, approximately 400 kilometres off the coast of East Africa.
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The International Organization for Migration is an intergovernmental organization that provides services and advice concerning migration to governments and migrants, including internally displaced persons, refugees, and migrant workers.
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Mayotte is an overseas department/region and single territorial collectivity of France officially named the Department of Mayotte. is located in the northern Mozambique Channel in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Southeast Africa, between northwestern Ma