Two motorboats carrying Somali migrants capsized in the Indian Ocean near Madagascar, resulting in 25 deaths after a nearly month-long journey. The vessels departed from a beach near Mogadishu, Somalia, on November 2, 2024, with 73 passengers seeking to reach Mayotte, a French territory approximately 994 miles away.
Madagascar officials reported that 48 survivors, aged between 17 and 50, were rescued near the island of Nosy Be off northern Madagascar. Somalia’s Information Minister Daud Aweis stated, “They rescued 25 people, including seven who died” from the first boat near Nosy Iranja.
One boat carrying 38 people was discovered drifting near Nosy Iranja, where local fishermen rescued survivors. A second vessel with 32 passengers reached Madagascar’s Port du Cratère, where 23 people were rescued.
This route to Mayotte has claimed thousands of lives in recent decades. Historical data shows an estimated 7,000-10,000 migrants lost their lives on similar journeys between 1995 and 2012.
Aweis stated Somalia would launch an investigation into the boats’ departure point and described the trip’s organizers as illegal immigration criminals. He also cautioned others against attempting such dangerous crossings.
A Somali government delegation will travel to Madagascar to coordinate repatriation efforts for survivors. Madagascar’s foreign ministry has requested assistance from the U.N. International Organization for Migration to support this effort.
Somalia’s Foreign Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi confirmed the government’s commitment to investigating the incident and helping survivors return home.
Each year, numerous Somali youth attempt perilous migrations seeking improved lives elsewhere. The United Nations International Organization for Migration has noted increasing concerns about people leaving the Horn of Africa region to escape drought and conflict, with many risking dangerous sea routes to reach territories offering better opportunities.
Madagascan port authorities are coordinating with international agencies to provide documentation and support for the 48 survivors, while officials from both nations work to strengthen maritime monitoring along this migration route. Regular patrols have been increased in the waters between Madagascar and Mayotte.
