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At least 30 bodies in advanced stages of decomposition were discovered aboard a drifting boat off the coast of Senegal, military authorities confirmed Tuesday. The grim discovery adds to a growing list of tragedies involving migrants attempting the perilous journey to Europe.
The Senegalese navy responded to reports of a vessel adrift approximately 70 kilometers (45 miles) from Dakar. Upon reaching the scene, the wooden canoe—commonly referred to as a pirogue—was towed into port early Monday morning. However, the condition of the bodies complicated the recovery process.
“Due to the advanced state of decomposition, the recovery, identification, and transfer of the bodies is proving extremely difficult,” read a military statement released on X (formerly known as Twitter).
In recent months, there has been a marked increase in the number of migrants leaving Senegal for Spain’s Canary Islands, a treacherous 1,500-kilometer (950-mile) journey across the Atlantic Ocean. Authorities suspect that the bodies found aboard the pirogue were likely migrants who had been adrift for days, possibly even weeks, before their discovery by local fishermen.
Ongoing investigations are seeking to determine the boat’s point of departure and the number of individuals initially on board. Details about when the boat set sail remain unclear. What is certain is that the tragedy underscores the desperation many feel as they attempt the hazardous route to Europe.
The tragedy off the Senegalese coast is not an isolated incident. In August, 14 decomposing bodies—believed to be Senegalese migrants—were found by a local fisherman off the coast of the Dominican Republic. Authorities believe they were part of a similar journey.
In response to the increasing frequency of such incidents, the Senegalese government announced a 10-year plan in August to curb illegal migration. This comes as the country’s navy has intercepted hundreds of migrants attempting to flee the country by boat in recent weeks. However, these efforts have done little to quell the number of people willing to risk their lives for a chance at reaching Europe.
The reasons for these perilous journeys are complex, with high unemployment, poverty, and regional conflicts driving many young men to leave West Africa. The route to Spain’s Canary Islands has become particularly popular, as it allows migrants to bypass both the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea, though the Atlantic passage is far from safe.
According to Frontex, the European border agency, the Atlantic route witnessed a 161% surge in crossings in 2023 compared to the previous year. The UN estimates that around 40,000 migrants successfully reached the Canary Islands in the last year alone. Sadly, nearly 1,000 migrants are known to have perished or disappeared on the journey, though experts believe the actual number is likely much higher.
Boubacar Sèye, President of Horizons sans Frontières, an NGO dedicated to raising awareness about illegal migration, described the situation as dire. “Given the frequency of these tragedies, it’s no longer a cyclical issue but a structural one,” Sèye said in a media interview. He emphasized the need for more comprehensive solutions, saying, “We must address the problem at its roots and find new ways to raise awareness, especially in vulnerable communities.”
For Sèye, the growing desperation among young West Africans speaks to a much deeper crisis. “People feel there is no future for them here,” he said. “Despair has taken hold, and unless we tackle this head-on, more will continue to risk their lives at sea.”
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