69 dead in tragic boat capsize off Morocco's coast

At least 69 people, including 25 Malians, died when a makeshift boat capsized off the coast of Morocco on December 19, 2024, as it was attempting to reach Spain’s Canary Islands from West Africa, Al-Jazeera reported on Friday.

The boat, carrying around 80 people, sank during the perilous journey, leaving only 11 survivors. According to the Ministry of Malians Abroad, a crisis unit has been established to monitor the situation.

Many of the victims were from the Kayes region in western Mali, where they had initially migrated to Mauritania in search of work in the construction industry.

After interacting with friends in Europe and America, they were encouraged to make the dangerous crossing, with some taking the journey without informing their families.

Mamadou Siby, the mayor of Marena in the Kayes region, identified that eight of the deceased were from his commune, noting that these young men had left seven months ago for work in Mauritania and later decided to migrate to Europe.

The tragic incident underscores the growing dangers of the Atlantic migration route, which is used by migrants attempting to reach Spain.

According to migrant aid group Walking Borders, this route is the deadliest in the world, with more than 10,000 people dying in 2024 alone, the highest recorded since the organisation began tracking deaths in 2007.

The Atlantic route typically begins in Senegal, The Gambia, Mauritania, and Morocco, with migrants fleeing poverty, unemployment, and ongoing conflicts in the Sahel region, including countries such as Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso.

Climate change’s effects on agriculture in the region have also contributed to the increasing number of people attempting this dangerous journey.

In addition to the growing number of deaths, the Atlantic migration route has seen a surge in arrivals to the Canary Islands this year, with 41,425 migrants arriving between January and November, surpassing the total number of arrivals in 2023.

Walking Borders has blamed the surge in deaths on inadequate rescue operations, arbitrary actions by authorities, and the criminalization of migrants.

The organisation has accused governments of prioritizing immigration control over the right to life, further exacerbating the risks faced by those making the journey.

The Malian authorities are continuing to gather information and offer support to the families of the victims, drawing attention to the urgent need for more humane and effective solutions to address the migrant crisis.