Senegal commemorates 24 years since Le Joola shipwreck

Senegal has marked the 24th anniversary of the Le Joola shipwreck, a maritime disaster that claimed 1,864 lives on September 26, 2002. Commemorations took place in Ziguinchor, the region that suffered the heaviest losses.

During the ceremonies, Prime Minister Ahmadou Al Aminou Lo described the tragedy as a “national conscience” and called for vigilance to prevent similar occurrences. He announced several measures for the Casamance region, including a ministerial council regarding the “Plan Diomaye Casamance,” the relaunch of the Emile Badiane bridge project, and the upcoming officialization of the Le Joola memorial status.

Despite the official tributes, families of the victims continue to demand the recovery of the shipwreck to retrieve the remains of those still trapped at the bottom of the ocean.