A new tragedy involving illegal immigration has struck the Comoros archipelago. At least 18 people , originating from the African continent, drowned while attempting to reach the French island of Mayotte.

The unfolding of the tragedy

The tragedy occurred north of Grande Comore, near the town of Mitsamiouli . According to authorities, smugglers allegedly forced the group to land in the open sea, off the coast.

1. Human toll: 18 confirmed deaths (including two children aged 3 and 10).
2. Missing: 4 people are still being sought by the coast guard.
3. Survivors: 30 survivors have been taken care of.

The Comorian Minister of the Interior, Mohamed Ahamada Assoumani, stated that many migrants perished because they did not know how to swim after being abandoned in the water by smugglers.

Profile of victims and international cooperation

The survivors, mainly from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Burundi , used the Comoros as a transit zone to Mayotte.

"Only through international solidarity and joint efforts with neighboring countries will we be able to find solutions to these criminal acts," stressed James Tsok Bot, United Nations representative in the Comoros, welcoming the nascent collaboration between Moroni and Tanzania.

Mayotte: A Perilous Hope

Despite being the poorest department in France, the island of Mayotte exerts a strong pull on impoverished populations from East Africa and the Comoros archipelago. Every year, thousands of migrants risk their lives in makeshift boats to cross these dangerous waters, under the control of unscrupulous smuggling networks.