By Goodluck Ikiebe
Seventy migrants have been reported dead when their boat capsized en route to Spain.
Mali’s Minister for Malians Living Abroad, Mossa Ag Attaher, stated in a statement that the boat capsized earlier this month, leaving only 11 survivors. The boat was carrying 80 migrants.
25 young Malians have unfortunately been formally identified among the victims, while nine Malian survivors have been identified, according to the Ministry.
The Atlantic route from West Africa to Spain’s Canary Islands remains one of the deadliest migrant pathways in the world.
For many migrants from Mauritania, Senegal, Mali, and neighbouring countries, the Canary Islands are viewed as a gateway to continental Europe, offering hope for economic opportunities or escape from violence and instability.
“Among the 25 Malians dead, there are 8 Malians from my commune.
“These dead young men left my commune seven months ago to work in the construction industry in Mauritania.
“Unfortunately, they were in contact with their friends in Europe and America, who encouraged them to come to these countries, and in most cases, they took the perilous journey without even informing their families back home,” said Mamadou Siby, the mayor of Marena commune in Kayes.
