Twenty-four people died when two boats capsized off Madagascar’s coast in the Indian Ocean, Somalia’s government announced Sunday, as authorities launched efforts to assist survivors and investigate the circumstances of the tragedy.
Foreign Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi said rescue operations saved 46 people, predominantly young Somalis whose intended destination remains unclear. “We are working tirelessly to ensure the survivors are brought back home safely and provided with the necessary care,” Fiqi said.
A Somali delegation led by the country’s ambassador to Ethiopia will travel to Madagascar Monday to investigate the incident and coordinate assistance efforts. The government is simultaneously investigating reports of Somali youth stranded on Morocco’s coastline, with the country’s ambassador to Morocco tasked with examining that separate incident.
The disasters highlight the ongoing crisis of irregular migration from Horn of Africa countries, where conflict and drought drive thousands to attempt dangerous journeys annually. The U.N. Migration Agency has repeatedly warned about increasing cases of risky migration from the region.
The latest tragedy follows an April incident where 38 migrants, mostly Somalis and Ethiopians, died in a shipwreck off Djibouti’s coast on a popular route to Yemen. Twenty-two people were rescued in that disaster.
“These incidents underscore the desperate measures young people are taking in search of better opportunities,” said Mohamed Hassan, a migration expert at the Horn Institute. “The international community needs to address the root causes driving such dangerous journeys.”
