A makeshift boat carrying migrants from several West African countries was intercepted off the coast of Senegal. Among the 238 people rescued, Guineans make up the largest group.

According to the National Division for Combating Migrant Smuggling and Related Practices (DNLT), the migrants were apprehended after being handed over by the National Navy, following the interception of the vessel in Senegalese waters, south of Cape Manuel, about ten nautical miles from the shore.

The group consists of 124 Guineans, including 60 men, 48 women and 16 minors. The other intercepted migrants are of Senegalese (61), Gambian (39), Malian (4), Ghanaian (3), Ivorian (4) and Sierra Leonean (3) nationality.

According to the statements gathered, the pirogue left Gambia, specifically the locality of Djinack, on the night of December 5-6, 2025. After several days of navigation, the vessel reached Mauritanian waters before suffering a technical failure, the engines having detached, forcing the passengers to turn back.

Once off the coast of Dakar, the pirogue's captain, identified as Moussa, reportedly disembarked, taking the outboard motors with him. He was allegedly picked up by a domestic pirogue, accompanied by a sick woman and her child, leading to the belief that he would return with new motors. Faced with his prolonged absence, the migrants contacted the Senegalese Navy for assistance.

Nine people, including three minors, were evacuated to Abass Ndao Hospital for medical treatment. The investigation identified ten suspected crew members, who were taken into custody as part of the ongoing inquiry, while the other migrants, mostly Guineans, were released after being questioned.