Senegalese authorities on Tuesday intercepted 112 migrants aboard a large wooden fishing boat, known locally as a pirogue, off the coast of Dakar as they attempted the dangerous Atlantic journey toward Europe.
According to Abdoul Aziz Gueye, mayor of Dakar’s Ouakam district, local fishermen first spotted the drifting vessel, which had no engine, and alerted security forces.
“The fishermen kindly lent them a motor which they used to approach the shores before they were intercepted by the marines,” Gueye said, adding that all passengers were young men.
An investigation has been launched to determine the vessel’s origins and why it lacked an engine.
When brought ashore at Ouakam Beach, one of the migrants told Reuters the group had departed from neighbouring Gambia and had spent five days at sea before being stopped.
The incident highlights the ongoing challenge of irregular migration from West Africa to Europe, particularly along the Atlantic route to Spain’s Canary Islands — one of the deadliest migration corridors.
Despite tighter patrols and cooperation between West African and European authorities, the flow of migrants continues, driven by economic hardship, political instability, and the worsening effects of climate change on livelihoods in the region.
Senegal has increased coastal surveillance in recent years, but overcrowded and poorly equipped boats remain a common sight on the treacherous route.
