At least 69 people have died after a boat, which was bound for Spain from West Africa, capsized off the coast of Morocco. Mali’s Ministry of Malians Abroad confirmed the tragedy, revealing that 25 of the deceased were from Mali.
The makeshift boat, carrying around 80 passengers, sank last week, with only 11 survivors, including nine Malians, rescued from the wreckage. The Ministry has dispatched a crisis unit to monitor the situation.
The incident highlights the perilous migration route from Africa to Europe, which is fraught with danger. Migrants, many fleeing conflict, instability, and economic hardship in their home countries, often embark on these treacherous journeys in search of better opportunities in Europe.
Mali, in particular, has been affected by years of jihadist violence and military coups, which have left large parts of the country ungovernable. Alongside these security issues, unemployment and the adverse effects of climate change on farming have pushed many to attempt the dangerous crossing to Spain.
This tragedy is part of a larger crisis affecting migrants traveling from sub-Saharan Africa to Spain via Morocco. According to the Spanish rights group Caminando Fronteras, over 10,000 people have died attempting the crossing in 2024, making it one of the deadliest migrant routes in the world. The organization reports an average of 30 deaths per day on this route, which stretches from the Atlantic coasts of Mauritania and Morocco to Spain. At its closest point, Morocco is just 14 km from Spain’s mainland.
