Following a catastrophic shipwreck off the coast of Mbour, Senegal, which has claimed the lives of over 125 people, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has pledged to take decisive action against human trafficking.
Rescue operations are ongoing, though the chances of finding more survivors are slim.
The President, visibly shaken by the incident, expressed his condolences to the grieving families, stating that the nation is in mourning.”This tragedy is the result of human trafficking networks that exploit the desperation of young people,” President Faye said during his visit to Mbour. He criticized these traffickers, labeling them as responsible for the false promises made to those seeking a better future.Public frustration has also surfaced, with critics accusing the government of failing to address the underlying unemployment crisis that drives many young people to risk such dangerous journeys. Human rights activist Moussa Diakhaté highlighted the dire situation, stressing that promises made to improve the youth’s prospects have not been fulfilled.
Meanwhile, authorities have recovered around 40 bodies and are continuing their search, though nearly 50 people remain missing.
The government has committed to cracking down on the traffickers responsible for this crisis. As Mbour and the rest of the country grieve, the event has brought renewed focus on Senegal’s worsening migration crisis.
