At least 13 people have died after a small boat, known locally as a pirogue, capsized on the Niger River along the border between Niger and Benin, local sources told AFP on Thursday.
The tragic incident occurred on Wednesday between the Nigerien town of Gaya and Malanville in Benin. While the exact cause of the accident remains unknown, local reports suggest the boat may have been overloaded—a frequent issue on the river.
“The pirogue was carrying essentially Nigeriens. It overturned between Gaya and Malanville,” a resident told AFP. Another local said there were survivors, but confirmed 13 fatalities, echoing reports from local media. Search and rescue operations are currently underway.
Despite a nearly two-year-long land border closure imposed by Niger’s military government over accusations that Benin is attempting to destabilise the country—a claim Benin denies—people and goods continue to cross between the two nations daily via the river.
Deadly river accidents are not uncommon in the region. In August 2023, two of six people aboard a pirogue drowned in a similar incident. In a more devastating case in February 2019, at least 43 people, including children, died when a vessel carrying traders and grain sank on the river.
Authorities are urging caution and better enforcement of safety standards for river transport to prevent further tragedies.
