A tragic migrant boat wreck off the Moroccan coast on December 19, has left 70 people missing, including 25 Malian nationals, Mali’s government confirmed on Thursday.
The vessel, carrying around 80 migrants bound for Spain, sank in Moroccan waters. Eleven people were rescued, nine of whom were from Mali, according to a government statement that referenced information from regional embassies, officials, victims’ families, and survivors.
Thousands of migrants embark on perilous sea journeys each year, seeking to reach Europe in unsafe and overcrowded vessels. The Atlantic route to the Canary Islands, in particular, is one of the deadliest due to strong ocean currents and long distances.
A report by Spanish migration NGO Caminando Fronteras revealed that over 10,400 migrants have died attempting to reach Spain in 2024, marking the deadliest year in its records. The Canaries, located just 100 kilometres (62 miles) from North Africa at their nearest point, are a frequent destination. However, smugglers often take longer and riskier routes to evade controls, sometimes starting journeys up to 1,000 kilometres away.
Mali’s ongoing security crisis since 2012, including attacks by terror groups, separatist movements, and criminal gangs, has driven many of its citizens to undertake such dangerous crossings in search of safety and better opportunities.
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) estimates that more than 16,400 migrants have died trying to reach Europe from Africa since 2014, with many fatalities occurring on the Atlantic route to the Canary Islands.
