At least 480 Senegalese migrants to the Canary Islands have died or disappeared within a few weeks when crossing the sea. The shipwreck that has left the cruellest figures is that of 24 October: It was on its way to Europe and, after the motor of the boat, which was transporting 200 passengers, collapsed, causing the death of at least 140 people.

Following this event, the Association of Journalists specialized in Migration and Security of Senegal (AJMS) has denounced that the government does nothing to the “lack of perspective” of the young people of the country, which motivates them to cross the sea.

For their part, Ministers Néné Fatouma Tall and Dame Diop of the Government of Senegal, in statements to PressAfri, have stated that people who embark not only begin the migration process on employment grounds. Government representatives have also added that they have to see the belief that the other side of the sea is full of opportunities and family pressure. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has launched a project to raise awareness of the risks of irregular migration in the world.

Day of mourning

Faced with the dramatic number of deaths and disappearances, a number of Senegalese citizens and associations are organizing a day of mourning on 13 November. They will use social media to pay tribute to those who have lost their lives and demand solutions from the government through the hashtags #Whatshappeningenegal and #SènegalEnDeuil.