Tragedy at Sea: Nearly 150 Migrants Feared Dead or Missing off West Africa

The United Nations’ migration agency said on Friday that a grim total of almost 150 migrants are either dead or still missing after three separate sea incidents along West Africa’s shoreline. The numbers come from reports gathered by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and local authorities in Mauritania, Senegal and the Ivory Coast.

In the first tragedy, a modest wooden boat overloaded with men, women and children capsized just off the Mauritanian coast near Nouakchott. Witnesses told rescuers that the vessel was swamping in a sudden swell. By the time the coast guard arrived, the boat had broken apart and the crew managed to pull ashore 22 survivors. The IOM estimates that about 45 people drowned and another 30 are still unaccounted for.

A second disaster unfolded a few days later in Senegalian waters near the town of Mbour. A larger fishing‑type vessel carrying migrants from the Sahel was hit by a rogue wave. Local fishermen rescued 58 survivors, but officials say roughly 22 people were pulled from the water dead and 12 remain missing.

The latest incident, reported off the coast of Abidjan, involved a precarious, inflatable skiff that reportedly sank after a engine failure left it adrift for hours. Authorities recovered 13 bodies and said 14 more are presumed missing.

Putting the three events together, the UN’s tally comes to about 149 people either confirmed dead or still missing. “These are not isolated tragedies,” said IOM spokesperson Miriam Kouassi in a press briefing. “They are a stark reminder of the desperate risks migrants take and the urgent need for safer, legal pathways.”

Governments in the region have faced criticism for lax enforcement of safety standards on vessels that often operate without proper licensing. Human‑rights groups argue that traffickers continue to exploit vulnerable populations, promising a better life in Europe despite the perilous journey.

In response, the UN is urging coastal states to strengthen maritime monitoring, increase rescue capacity, and collaborate on regional agreements that curb smuggling networks. Meanwhile, the families of the missing are left waiting, hoping for any news that might bring closure.