On Friday, Gambia’s Department of Immigration intercepted a group of 11 would-be irregular migrants in Batokunku as they were preparing to set sail. According to available information, the group consisted of eight Gambians—five men and three women—and three Senegalese. Security forces also apprehended their alleged smuggler, a 26-year-old Malian national identified as Madi Camara. All 12 have been taken into custody pending further investigation. Inquiries are ongoing to establish the exact circumstances of the attempted departure and to identify any other members of the network.
24 years after Le Joola tragedy, justice remains incomplete for victims’ families
On Saturday, Senegal marked the 24th anniversary of the sinking of Le Joola ferry, a disaster considered one of the worst in the history of global civil maritime transport, deadlier even than the sinking of the Titanic. Le Joola sailed between Dakar and Ziguinchor in Casamance. The tragedy struck on the night of 26th September, 2002 when the ferry, en route from Ziguinchor to Dakar, designed to carry a maximum of approximately 580 passengers but was transporting nearly 2,000 — more than three times its official capacity — along with vehicles and poorly secured cargo encountered a violent storm off the coast of The Gambia, causing it to capsize around 10:00pm. According to the official figures released by the Senegalese government, the shipwreck claimed 1,863 lives and left 64 survivors. Twenty-four years later the families continue to demand truth and justice, as well as the raising of the wreckage — a call that has gone unanswered more than two decades after the tragedy.
Senegalese man found dead in the New York
Diatta Niang, a 55-year-old Senegalese man originally from Dakar, was found dead in his Bronx apartment in New York. According to Les Échos, efforts are underway to locate his relatives, while an autopsy is expected to help clarify the circumstances of his death. The Consulate General of Senegal in New York is attempting to locate the family of Diatta Niang. According to information cited by the daily newspaper, his body was discovered by police on Thursday. However, the exact date of his death has not been specified. The circumstances surrounding the discovery and the cause of death also remain to be determined. The New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner has forwarded the deceased’s identification documents to Senegal’s Consul General, Demba Camara.
President Faye defends Senegal’s law on homosexuality
President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has defended Senegal’s legislative sovereignty regarding the issue of homosexuality, pointing the international community toward its own stance on the laws of other nations. During an interview, he was asked about the possibility — previously raised by Ousmane Sonko — of potentially toughening the law should the need arise. Faye countered: “Which international community are you talking about? When those countries legalised same-sex marriage, were we deeply shocked? Yes. But did we react?” He said Senegal viewed those nations as “sovereign” and respected their decisions and asked them to reciprocate.
Ex-Speaker El Malick Ndiaye says Senegal is at a standstill
El Malick Ndiaye did not mince words when describing the state of the country following the rift between Ousmane Sonko and Diomaye Faye. “Senegal is on pause. Everything has come to a standstill, except for rampant political party-switching,” he declared. “If you knew the background behind certain appointments, you would be dumbfounded,” he stated bluntly in Italy this Saturday, during a patriotic gathering organized by Pastef Italy. “Some were even frightened when they were appointed. There were those who wanted to be chairmen of the board but ended up with director-level positions, despite lacking the required qualifications; some only hold a high school diploma,” he said. According to El Malick Ndiaye, Senegal is in danger today. He claimed that even some donors have lost confidence.