The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad regrets to announce the tragic loss of life following the capsizing of an irregular migrant boat that allegedly departed from Sami Koto, The Gambia.
According to reports from the Gambian Embassy in Nouakchott, the incident occurred in the early hours of 27 August 2025, between 2:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m., off the coast of Lemhaisrat, a fishing village approximately 117 kilometers from Nouakchott. The boat was carrying an estimated 150 passengers, comprising primarily Gambian and Senegalese nationals.
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:
โช๏ธ16 survivors were rescued, of whom 5 have been confirmed as Gambian nationals.
โช๏ธOn 27 August, local authorities recovered 19 bodies from the water.
โช๏ธOn 28 August, an additional 51 bodies were found washed ashore along the coastline, bringing the total number of recovered victims to 70 bodies.
โช๏ธDue 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 vesselโs 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.
Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
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