At least 69 people, including 25 Malians, lost their lives 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. The boat, carrying around 80 people, sank during the perilous journey, leaving only 11 survivors.
Many of the victims were from the Kayes region in western Mali, where they had migrated to Mauritania seeking work in the construction industry before attempting the dangerous crossing. Mamadou Siby, the mayor of Marena in Kayes, identified that eight of the deceased were from his commune, having left for work in Mauritania seven months ago and later decided to try to reach Europe.
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The incident highlights the growing dangers of the Atlantic migration route, which is used by migrants attempting to reach Spain. According to the migrant aid group Walking Borders, this route is the deadliest in the world, with more than 10,000 deaths recorded in 2024 alone, the highest since the organization began tracking deaths in 2007.
Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso migrants, fleeing poverty, unemployment, and conflict in the Sahel region, are increasingly turning to this route, with climate change exacerbating agricultural challenges. Walking Borders has criticized inadequate rescue operations, the criminalization of migrants, and the prioritization of immigration control over the right to life, urging for more humane and effective solutions to address the migrant crisis.
The Malian authorities continue to gather information and offer support to the families of the victims, emphasizing the need for urgent action to address the growing humanitarian disaster.
