Authorities on Tuesday (September 16) detained 112 migrants aboard a wooden fishing boat, or ‘pirogue’, off the coast of Senegal’s capital Dakar. They were trying to cross the dangerous Atlantic Ocean to Europe.
Abdelaziz Gioué, mayor of Dakar’s Waqam district, said local fishermen had spotted the engineless pirogue drifting aimlessly and alerted authorities.
He said the fishermen had let the boat’s passengers use an engine. They then approached the shore, where the navy detained them.
He said all the people on board were young.
Gioué said an investigation had been launched to find out exactly where the boat had set off from and why it had no engine.
A migrant guarding the Senegalese gendarmerie on Wakam beach told Reuters that they had come from neighboring Gambia and had been at sea for five days.
Irregular migration from West Africa to Europe has long been a challenge for regional coastguards, especially as many try to reach Spain’s Canary Islands via the Atlantic route.
Despite increased cooperation between European and West African countries, irregular migration continues to thrive, with the root causes of the problem not being addressed. Experts say the economic crisis, political instability and the loss of traditional livelihoods due to climate change are among the main reasons.
Despite increased patrols in Senegal in recent years, migrants still resort to this risky route. In many cases, the boats are not fully equipped for the perilous journey, and the vehicles are often overloaded.
Source: Reuters
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