Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye promised on Wednesday, September 11, a “relentless stalking” smugglers transporting migrants to Europe, in the setting of a new drama of clandestine migration that he described as “unsustainable situation”.
Faye, elected in March and himself faced with a succession of such tragedies at sea, called on young people to stay in the country and not give in to “the illusion” of a better future elsewhere. He assured that the government is working “working hard” to policies against youth unemployment.
According to the Senegalese press, at least 35 people died on Sunday when an overloaded canoe sank shortly after leaving the fishing port of Mbour (west). Many others are missing.
Senegal is one of the main departure points for thousands of Africans who for years have taken the dangerous route across the Atlantic Ocean and tried to reach Europe, mainly via the Spanish Canary Islands archipelago, aboard overcrowded and often rickety boats.
The desperation of youth
Mr Faye went to Mbour as parts of the public criticised the previous government for its lack of compassion towards the distressed populations. “It is with immense sadness that I find myself here today facing this human tragedy that shocks us all.”he declared facing the ocean. “The nation is in mourning and the situation is particularly unbearable”he stressed.
The succession of tragedies in recent years is the result of sectors “that exploit the desperation of this youth and that [lui] selling the dream of a better future »I was moved. “The relentless hunt against these sellers of illusion, these sellers of death will intensify from now on”promised. “The government is working hard to implement appropriate public policies to provide jobs for young people here in Senegal and invite them to rebuild our country”he clarified.
But young people, especially affected by unemployment, and the population must understand that the situation “It can’t be solved overnight”He admitted. He called on the families to “put less pressure” about young people. Many young people leave at the expense of, or under real or perceived pressure from, families they would help support once in Europe.
Some of these journeys are carried out in full view of local populations. President Faye announced the upcoming creation of a toll-free number to report smugglers.
