Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The Gambian authorities have confirmed that at least 112 people were rescued and 39 bodies recovered following the capsizing of a migrant boat near Jinack in the North Bank Region, as coordinated rescue and recovery operations continue.
In a press release dated January 6, 2026, the Ministry of Defence said the incident triggered the immediate activation of national emergency response mechanisms, in line with established maritime safety, humanitarian, and emergency response protocols.
According to officially verified information, those rescued include 54 Gambians, 42 Senegalese, nine Conakry Guineans, three Malians, two Ivoirians, one Burkinabe, and one Sierra Leonean. The ministry added that 39 deceased persons have so far been recovered, with 24 bodies found within Gambian territory and 15 within Senegalese waters.
“All rescued persons have since been handed over to the appropriate institutions for medical assessment, psychosocial support, and further administrative processing,” the statement said, noting that these steps are being undertaken in accordance with national laws and international humanitarian standards.
Authorities said identification, documentation, and investigative processes concerning the deceased are still ongoing, and pledged to provide further updates as more information becomes available.
The Ministry of Defence expressed gratitude to all national institutions and international partners involved in the rescue and recovery efforts, singling out the Spanish Guardia Civil for its support and collaboration in the ongoing maritime safety and humanitarian response.
Meanwhile, the ministry has strongly dismissed media reports suggesting that fuel shortages within the Gambia Navy were hampering rescue operations. Responding to a January 6 publication by Foroyaa titled “Navy Struggles With Fuel Shortages After Boat Tragedy,” the ministry described the report as “unfounded” and “misleading.”
It said remarks attributed to a naval officer were taken out of context and did not imply that fuel shortages were affecting operations. “Sufficient fuel resources are available to support the ongoing rescue and recovery operations without interruption,” the ministry stressed.
The ministry further clarified that references to the possible use of arrested vessels were purely hypothetical contingency considerations and not evidence of any current logistical or fuel constraints.
Reiterating the government’s commitment first outlined in a January 1 press release, the Ministry of Defence said The Gambia remains fully engaged in deploying all necessary resources to ensure that rescue and recovery efforts continue until their objectives are achieved.
The ministry also urged the media and the public to rely on official statements and verified information, particularly on matters relating to national security and humanitarian emergencies, in order to preserve public trust and national cohesion in the aftermath of what it described as a national tragedy.
