At least 34 people have died after a small wooden boat carrying migrants capsized off the coast of Senegal, the Senegalese Press Agency (APS) reports, citing an official source. The vessel was traveling between the capital, Dakar, and the northern city of Saint-Louis, heading toward Spain's Canary Islands.
The Senegalese Interior ministry stated that one person was rescued, though the total number of people still missing has not yet been established. Saliou Diouf, founder of the Senegalese migrant aid group Boza Fii, told AFP that all bodies recovered so far were Senegalese. The nationalities of other passengers remain unknown as search operations continue.
President Bassirou Diomaye Faye issued a statement on X expressing condolences to the victims' families and urging Senegalese nationals to avoid dangerous sea crossings. He pledged to increase efforts to dismantle the networks organizing these journeys, stating, "We will relentlessly continue the fight against those who organise these crossings and the work that gives our young people reasons to hope here."
The tragedy occurs as the Atlantic route to the Canary Islands sees high mortality rates. The Spanish migrant rights group Walking Borders recorded 635 deaths on this route between January and May 2026, noting it is the highest toll among the routes it monitors. Walking Borders estimates that approximately 21 people died for every 100 who reached the Canary Islands during that period.
Senegalese authorities reported intercepting another boat on Friday carrying 142 migrants, including 23 women, two babies, and two other children. Police identified the group as nationals of Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, and Nigeria.
On Saturday, a state of emergency was declared on the Spanish island of El Hierro following a surge in arrivals. Local authorities reported that more than 3,300 people reached the island in about 30 boats since the beginning of November. The Canary Islands have become a primary entry point for migrants and refugees from West Africa, potentially diverted from the central Mediterranean due to tighter controls and increased cooperation between European and North African states.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) attributes the migration to limited employment opportunities, family pressures, and established networks. For many young people, the hope of earning more abroad remains a primary incentive despite the risks of overcrowded boats. According to the country's statistics agency, nearly one in four young people in Senegal was unemployed in the second quarter of 2026.
On Sunday, Senegal's interior ministry stated it would continue to combat people-smuggling networks by strengthening cooperation with neighboring countries.
