Gambia Intercepts 780 Migrants Following Deadly New Year’s Eve Boat Capsize

Gambian authorities stopped over 780 migrants trying to reach Europe after a New Year’s Eve boat capsized, killing 30+. Migrants, mostly young, now often depart from Gambia and Guinea due to tighter patrols nearby. Several boats went missing or sank in late 2025, showing the journey’s dangers.

Authorities in The Gambia have intercepted more than 780 migrants who were attempting to use the country as a departure point to reach Europe, the interior ministry announced on Friday. The operation comes just days after a tragic incident in which a migrant boat capsized off the Gambian coast, claiming the lives of over 30 people, highlighting the ongoing risks faced by migrants attempting dangerous sea crossings.
In recent years, tens of thousands of people, mostly young men and women from across West Africa, have sought to reach Europe by crossing the Atlantic. Many have targeted the Spanish Canary Islands as their destination, often traveling on overcrowded and poorly maintained boats that pose serious risks to life and safety. These journeys are frequently undertaken without proper safety measures, exposing migrants to extreme danger, including capsizing, dehydration, and drowning.
Siman Lowe, spokesperson for the Gambia Immigration Department, told AFP that authorities carried out three separate operations across various locations in the country. These operations led to the interception of 782 individuals who were attempting to leave The Gambia illegally. He explained that the operations began on January 3, following the deadly capsizing of an overloaded migrant boat on New Year’s Eve, which resulted in at least 31 fatalities.
The surge in migrant attempts from The Gambia reflects a broader shift in West African migration routes. In recent months, migrant boats have increasingly departed from countries further south, including The Gambia and Guinea. This shift is largely a response to strengthened maritime patrols by Senegal, Mauritania, and Morocco, which have intensified surveillance along traditional routes, making it more difficult for migrants to depart safely.
In a statement, the Gambian interior ministry expressed deep concern over the rapid rise in the number of people attempting to travel to Europe via the country. The ministry noted that the increase had prompted the activation of special operation teams tasked with responding decisively to the growing trend. These teams are responsible for monitoring migration flows, intercepting illegal departures, and coordinating with local and international authorities to ensure the safety of potential migrants.
Among those intercepted were 233 individuals from Senegal, 197 Gambians, 176 from Guinea, and 148 from Mali. Authorities also highlighted that several migrant boat incidents linked to departures from The Gambia occurred toward the end of 2025, underscoring the ongoing dangers faced by those attempting the perilous journey across the sea.
The most recent capsized vessel, which overturned overnight between December 31 and January 1, was last heard from when it sent a distress signal near the country’s North Bank region. In addition, a boat carrying more than 200 people, which left the northern village of Jinack on December 5, remains unaccounted for, according to the Ebrima Migrant Situation Foundation. Another vessel, carrying more than 190 migrants and departing from Jinack on November 17, has been confirmed to have sunk after weeks of unsuccessful tracking and tracing efforts.
These incidents illustrate the extreme risks faced by West African migrants seeking better economic opportunities or fleeing conflict, poverty, or instability. Authorities in The Gambia and the wider region continue to emphasize the importance of safe migration practices and have called for increased regional cooperation to manage migration flows while reducing the human toll. The recent operations are part of a broader effort to protect lives, curb illegal departures, and address the underlying causes that drive young people to undertake such dangerous journeys.