Life market in Senegal: 34 immigrants lost their lives
Quick Look
- 34 people lost their lives when the boat carrying irregular immigrants trying to go to Europe capsized off the coast of Kebemer, Senegal.
- Search and rescue efforts continue in the region.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The cruise from Senegal to the Canary Islands is a high-risk route that takes 4 to 7 days. Immigrants in the region often take this risk with the phrase 'Barça wala Barshak'.
The boat carrying irregular immigrants trying to go to Europe illegally capsized off the coast of Kebemer city in northern Senegal. It was learned that the dead bodies of 34 people were found in the incident and search and rescue efforts continued.
It is estimated that the boat was trying to cross Mauritania and go to the Canary Islands, Europe's closest land to Africa. Reaching Spain's Canary Islands from Senegal takes 4 to 7 days, depending on the departure point.
According to the Senegal News Agency (APS), this journey, which begins in the open sea, often ends with makeshift boats carrying hundreds of people capsizing off the coast of Mauritania.
The expression "Barça wala Barshak", which means "Either Spain or death" in the local Wolof language, also reveals the risk Senegalese young people take to reach Europe.
3 THOUSAND IMMIGRANTS DIED ON THE ROAD TO SPAIN IN A YEAR
In the report published by the Spanish non-governmental organization (NGO) Caminando Fronteras in December 2025, it was stated that 3 thousand 90 irregular immigrants, most of whom left the North and West African coasts and tried to reach the Spanish coast, lost their lives in 2025.
Caminando Fronteras emphasized that the Canary Islands "continue to be the deadliest destination" for irregular immigrants and warned that the number of boat trips departing from Guinea, which has increased recently, is much longer and more dangerous for women and children.
Open Questions
- How many people were on the boat in total?
- What is the number of people missing?
