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At least 69 people, including 25 Malians, have died after a boat heading to Spain from West Africa capsized off Morocco, Malian authorities have confirmed.
There were about 80 people in the “homemade boat”, but only 11 survived, according to a statement from the Ministry of Malians Abroad. At least nine of the survivors are from Mali.
The boat capsized last week, but the ministry confirmed the incident on Thursday.
A crisis team has been sent to monitor the situation, the report says.
Mali has endured years of jihadist and separatist violence, leading to military coups in 2020 and 2021.
The junta promised to hold elections to return to civilian rule by March 2024, but that has not yet happened.
Instability in the country due to a widespread jihadist insurgency has left much of the north and east ungovernable.
Unemployment and the effects of climate change on agriculture have also led many to seek greener pastures in Europe.
But the crossing is dangerous.
According to a Spanish human rights charity, walking limits, more than 10,000 people have died this year trying to reach Spain by boat from Africa, making it one of the most dangerous migrant routes in the world.
The organization found an average of 30 deaths per day.
The migration route, which runs from the Atlantic coast of Mauritania and Morocco to Spain, is considered one of the most dangerous in the world.
Many of those who follow this dangerous path come from sub-Saharan Africa, fleeing poverty and conflict in their own countries.
Morocco is only eight nautical miles (14 km) from mainland Spain at its closest point.
