President Adama Barrow delivered a somber nationwide address on Friday, expressing profound grief over a tragic maritime accident that claimed lives off the coast of Jinack Village in the North Bank Region on New Year’s Eve.
The incident occurred around midnight on December 31, 2025, when a boat carrying irregular migrants—reportedly more than 200 people attempting the perilous journey to Europe’s Canary Islands—capsized. Authorities have confirmed that 102 survivors have been rescued, many of whom are receiving urgent medical treatment, while seven bodies have been recovered. Search and rescue operations continue amid fears that dozens remain missing.
In his broadcast, President Barrow described the event as a “heartbreaking tragedy,” extending sincere condolences on behalf of the government and the Gambian people to bereaved families. “The nation grieves with you, and we hold you dearly in our hearts at this painful moment,” he said, reassuring anxious relatives that they are not alone.
The president activated the National Emergency Response Plan, deploying resources for intensified rescue efforts and aid to survivors. He praised the swift actions of the Gambia Navy, who risked their lives upon receiving a distress alert, along with supporting security services, health workers at Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital, and selfless local volunteers, including fishermen.
“This incident is a painful reminder of the dangerous and life-threatening nature of irregular migration,” Barrow warned, emphasizing that “no dream, journey, or promise is worth a single loss of life at sea.” He reaffirmed his government’s commitment to curbing such voyages by fostering domestic opportunities through development initiatives, job creation, and youth livelihoods.
Barrow urged citizens to remain calm and compassionate as operations proceed, promising updates on victims’ identities and nationalities once they are verified. A comprehensive investigation will follow, with accountability for any wrongdoing.
Concluding on a note of faith, the president prayed for mercy on the deceased, healing for the injured, and strength for rescuers.
The tragedy highlights the escalating risks on the Atlantic migration route, as tighter controls in neighboring countries push departures further south to Gambia.
