news 20 March 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
17 African Migrants Found Dead on Comoros Coast After Boat Capsizes En Route to Mayotte
Seventeen bodies were recovered from a migrant boat washed ashore in Comoros, with most victims from the Democratic Republic of Congo attempting to reach the French territory of Mayotte. Thirty survivors were rescued after locals alerted authorities to cries for help. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/17-bodies-recovered-in-comoros-from-boat-carrying-african-migrants-5397654
Authorities in Comoros recovered 17 bodies from a boat carrying African migrants that washed up on the archipelago’s coast. The incident was confirmed by Interior Minister Mohamed Ahamada during a press conference.
The vessel was spotted late Wednesday near Mitsamiouli when residents heard distress calls and notified police. Officials believe the group aimed for Mayotte, a French overseas territory between Mozambique and Madagascar, drawn by its welfare system despite being France’s poorest region.
Nine bodies were found early Thursday, adding to eight recovered overnight, while 30 people survived. Survivors and officials reported most migrants hailed from the Democratic Republic of Congo. A local hospital director noted a slightly higher toll of 18.
Such perilous journeys are common, with the UN’s IOM reporting at least 25 deaths near Mayotte in 2024 alone and thousands over the years due to human traffickers.