Adama Barrow says probe launched as nation mourns ‘national disaster’ that saw dozens of people drowning off Mauritania.
Gambian President Adama Barrow has pledged to punish human traffickers following the deaths of dozens of people who drowned this week when their boat attempting to reach Europe capsized off Mauritania.
“To lose 60 young lives at sea is a national tragedy and a matter of grave concern to my government,” Barrow said on Saturday in televised remarks.
“A full police investigation has been launched to get to the bottom of this serious national disaster. The culprits will be prosecuted according to law,” he added. Atleast 62 people drowned off the Mauritanian coast on Wednesday when the boat carrying them to Spain’s Canary Islands hit a rock – the largest known loss of life along the so-called western migration route this year, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). More than 80 survived the disaster by swimming ashore to Mauritania.
Al Jazeera’s Mohamed Vall, reporting from Nouadhibou on Mauritania’s coast, said foreign media were denied access to the rescued people, unlike previous instances.
“Before, they used to invite the foreign and local media to see how the migrants are been treated. The lack of access is now giving rise to speculation. People are now saying perhaps the facilities are not up to standard. But the government is saying that is not the case,” Vall said.
