Gandiol: 171 migrants rescued after pirogue runs aground

A total of 171 irregular migrants were rescued on October 20, 2026, after their pirogue ran aground at Pilote Bar in the commune of Gandiol, near Saint-Louis. The group, which included 37 Senegalese, 114 Gambians, and one Guinean national, also contained 12 children.

Preliminary investigations suggest the vessel departed from the Gambian coast on the night of October 15, heading toward Spain. Due to unfavorable weather conditions and rough seas, the boat was forced to make landfall at approximately 7:00 a.m. with the assistance of local fishermen from Guet-Ndar.

Seven individuals, including six Gambians and one Senegalese national, were evacuated to the Saint-Louis regional hospital for medical treatment. No deaths were reported. Security forces, including the Saint-Louis Territorial Gendarmerie and the North Naval Base, seized the pirogue and ten 20-liter containers of fuel. While two individuals are being held for questioning, the suspected smuggler and the boat captain remain at large.