No fewer than 44 migrants drowned on Sunday when their boat capsized off the coast of Western Sahara, migrant aid agency Caminando Fronteras have confirmed.
Africa Today News, New York gathered that about twelve others survived the unforeseen tragedy, which happened when the boat sunk off the coast of Cap Boujdour, the agency’s Helena Maleno tweeted.
He also added that the survivors were arrested, Maleno and taken into custody.
They would now face prosecution after the conclusion of investigations
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She went on to reveal that the bodies of seven victims were brought back to shore but the others could not be retrieved.
Meanwhile, there was no immediate confirmation from authorities in Morocco, which sees disputed Western Sahara as an integral part of the North African kingdom.
It was not clear where the boat was heading, but usually, migrants leaving from that area try to reach Spain’s Canary Islands.
Morocco is a key transit point on routes taken by migrants hoping for better lives in Europe.
Africa Today News, New York recalls that on Friday, Morocco and Spain said in a joint statement they were committed to strengthening cooperation on irregular migration.
At least 14,700 have attempted irregular departures were prevented and 52 human smuggling networks broke up in Morocco during the first three months of this year, according to interior ministry figures.
Moroccan authorities stopped more than 63,120 crossings last year and shut down 256 smuggling networks.
According to the Spanish interior ministry, more than 40,000 migrants arrived in the country by sea in 2021.
That same year, according to Caminando Fronteras, 4,404 migrants died or went missing as they tried to reach Spain.
Many advocacy organisations have launched campaigns against illegal migration calling on Africans to desist from it given the dangers associated with it.