Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye has launched a special budgetary program aimed at the “Prevention and Fight Against Irregular Migration,” instructing Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko to initiate inclusive national consultations as soon as possible.
The goal is to adjust the country’s national strategy to address the increasing challenge of irregular migration.
The announcement comes in the wake of a tragic boat capsizing off the coast of Mbour on September 8, which resulted in the deaths of several migrants.
President Diomaye described the incident as a grim reminder of the complexity surrounding illegal migration, orchestrated by well-organized human trafficking networks that exploit vulnerable populations. He called for justice to be served on these traffickers according to the severity of their crimes.
The Senegalese leader further tasked the Prime Minister and relevant ministers to strengthen preventive, security, and coercive measures aimed at stopping migrants from leaving the country.
He stressed the need for strategic oversight of the interministerial system to combat irregular migration, including a comprehensive review of the national framework for prevention.
This involves bolstering early-warning systems, fostering collaboration with local communities, and increasing public awareness, especially targeting the youth.
The capsized pirogue, which departed from Mbour and was en route to the Spanish Canary Islands, claimed 26 lives, including that of an 18-year-old schoolgirl.
This incident is part of a broader crisis, with overloaded boats frequently leaving Senegal’s shores, risking the lives of hundreds of migrants.
Reports indicate that more than 5,000 people have died attempting to cross the Atlantic to reach the Canary Islands in the first five months of this year, averaging 33 deaths per day.
The government’s new measures aim to address these tragedies and safeguard lives by preventing dangerous attempts at irregular migration.
