Upon receipt of the devastating news, a team from the Gambian Embassy, acting under the direct instruction of the Ambassador, was immediately dispatched to the site on 28th August 2025 to coordinate with Mauritanian authorities.
According to official accounts:
16 survivors were rescued, 5 of whom have been confirmed as Gambian nationals.
On 27 August, local authorities recovered 19 bodies from the water.
On 28 August, an additional 51 bodies were found washed ashore along the coastline, bringing the total number of recovered victims to 70 bodies.
Due to the conditions of the recovered bodies, a prompt burial was jointly undertaken by Mauritanian authorities and the Gambian Embassy. The burial was carried out in the presence of the Gendarmerie, Police, Fire and Rescue Services, the Red Cross, and medical professionals.
Tragically, based on the number of survivors and the vesselβs estimated passenger count, it is believed that over 100 people may have perished in the incident.
In a related development, Mauritanian authorities also intercepted a second irregular migrant boat believed to have departed from Ndar, Senegal. All passengers survived. Among them were 5 Gambian nationals, bringing the total number of Gambians currently in Mauritanian custody to 10. The Embassy is working closely with local authorities and international partners, including the International Organization for Migration (IOM), to ensure their welfare and eventual safe return to The Gambia.
The Ministry, on behalf of the Government of The Gambia, extends its deepest condolences to the families of all who lost their lives in this tragic incident. The Ministry assures the Gambian people that it is working tirelessly with the Gambian Embassy in Nouakchott, Mauritanian authorities, and relevant international partners to provide all necessary support to survivors and families of victims.
The Ministry further appeals to all Gambians, particularly the youth, to refrain from embarking on such perilous journeys, which continue to claim the lives of many. Efforts will be intensified with stakeholders to raise awareness and strengthen preventive measures against irregular migration.
