The Gambia Immigration Department (GID) has provided a detailed update on the tragic capsizing of an overcrowded migrant boat off the coast near Ginak Kajata Village, highlighting the role of organized smuggling networks in the disaster that has left dozens missing and feared dead.
The incident occurred on January 1, 2026, when the vessel carrying approximately 200 aspiring migrants, which had departed late on December 31, 2025, struck an underwater sandbank and capsized shortly after.
An investigation has identified two main suspects: Amadou, a Senegalese national, and Omar Manneh, a Gambian from Ginak and son of a local marabout. They are accused of orchestrating the journey, recruiting participants from Senegal, Gambia, Guinea, Mali, and the Ivory Coast, and arranging logistics. Migrants reportedly spent over a month in Ginak Village, harbored by Manneh and local accomplices.
Survivor testimonies reveal a disturbing detail: after the capsizing, the organizers allegedly returned to the scene by boat and selectively rescued only the captain, crew, and family members—including Manneh’s sister—abandoning others.
As of January 4, rescue efforts by the Gambia Navy and local fishermen recovered 15 bodies in Gambian waters and 16 in Senegal. A total of 102 survivors were saved, with 23 hospitalized and 82 processed by GID. These survivors received medical aid and family tracing assistance from the Gambia Red Cross Society and the National Disaster Management Agency.
The 82 processed include 40 Gambians, 31 Senegalese, 7 Guineans, 2 Ivorians, and 2 Malians—73 males and eight females, among them two minors. Hospitalized cases comprise 10 Gambians, 7 Senegalese, 4 Guineans, and 2 Malians.
GID emphasized that the tragedy stems from “organized migrant smuggling,” exploiting vulnerable individuals and causing avoidable deaths. The department condemned the “ruthless exploitation” by smugglers, calling it a stark warning about irregular migration dangers.
Ongoing operations continue, with GID pledging to pursue suspects and strengthen anti-smuggling measures alongside national and international partners. Appreciation was extended to emergency agencies and the government for their response.
Inspector Siman Lowe, GID Public Relations Officer, who signed and released the statement, reaffirmed the commitment to protecting migrants and combating irregular migration.
