A tragic boat capsizing off West Africa’s Atlantic coast has reportedly claimed the lives of over 40 Pakistanis. The boat, carrying 80 passengers, including Pakistani nationals, departed from Mauritania and capsized near Dakhla, a Moroccan-controlled port city in the disputed Western Sahara, according to Pakistan’s Embassy in Morocco.
The incident highlights the increasing dangers faced by migrants attempting irregular journeys to Europe. A Spain-based migrant rights organization, Walking Borders, reported that 50 people perished on the journey to the Canary Islands, 44 of whom were Pakistanis. The ill-fated voyage began on January 2.
Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives, calling for stricter measures to combat human trafficking. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also extended his condolences.
Most of the Pakistani victims hailed from Punjab province, with grieving families recounting the sacrifices made to fund the migration. In Daska, relatives of two men revealed they had sold property to pay human traffickers for the journey. Ahmed’s mother reported receiving unconfirmed news of his survival but has been unable to contact him, while Razia Bibi, the mother of another missing migrant, pleaded for government assistance in locating her son.
Deadly Migration Routes
West Africa’s Atlantic route has become increasingly perilous as migrants avoid tighter security in the Mediterranean. The EU border agency Frontex reported over 50,000 migrants reached Spain’s Canary Islands in 2024, including 178 Pakistanis.
Walking Borders recently called this route “the deadliest in the world,” citing 9,757 deaths or disappearances in attempts to reach the islands last year. Despite the proximity of the islands—just 105 kilometers from Africa’s closest point—many migrants endure extended journeys to evade security forces, with Mauritania becoming a major departure point.
The Pakistan Foreign Ministry confirmed several survivors, including Pakistanis, are being sheltered in a camp near Dakhla. The Pakistani Embassy in Morocco is coordinating with local authorities and has dispatched officials to assist survivors. The exact number of Pakistani casualties remains unconfirmed.