Gambia Intercepts Hundreds of Migrants As Deadly Boat Capsize Spurs Patrols

Gambian authorities said they have intercepted more than 780 would-be migrants attempting to travel to Europe by sea, following a boat capsize off the country’s coast that killed at least 31 people, officials said on Friday.

Interior Ministry officials said the operations took place across several locations in the country starting January 3, with migrants detained while preparing to depart on overcrowded vessels. Those intercepted included people from Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea and Mali, reflecting broader regional migration flows towards European shores.

The migrant boat that capsized overnight on December 31 was last heard from near the North Bank region, authorities said, prompting stepped-up maritime patrols by Gambian security forces.

Officials noted that heightened patrols in neighbouring countries, including Senegal, Mauritania and Morocco, have pushed some traffickers and migrants to embark from ports further south along the West African coast. The government said it has activated special response teams to address the rising number of attempted departures and prevent further loss of life.

The Gambia has become an increasingly used launch point for irregular sea journeys towards the Canary Islands and other European destinations, often involving unsafe vessels and smuggling networks. Humanitarian groups have warned that such crossings carry significant risks, particularly during the region’s stormier winter months.

SOURCE: AFP