The Gambia’s ministry of foreign affairs has announced that the Moroccan navy in Dakhla rescued two migrant boats with Gambians onboard. 

The boats were from The Gambia en route to Europe. 

“Information available to us through our Mission in Rabat indicates that the first boat, which left The Gambia on Thursday 23rd March 2023, was carrying one hundred and sixty-one people (161), out of which one hundred and forty-eight (148) were Gambians. 

“The second boat left on Friday 24th March 2023 carrying one hundred migrants, out of which forty-eight were Gambians, bringing the total number of Gambians to two hundred and thirty-three (233),” the ministry said.

According to the statement, “within the framework of the close cooperation and partnership between the two brotherly countries, the Moroccan Government in collaboration with The Gambia Embassy in Rabat, is facilitating the necessary arrangements for the safe, and smooth repatriation of Gambian migrants back to The Gambia.”

Reporting by Adama Makasuba