Pakistan has announced plans to repatriate 22 Pakistani migrants who survived a shipwreck off the coast of Dakhla in Western Sahara on January 15, according to Morocco World News.
The decision follows weeks of investigations spearheaded by Pakistani and Moroccan authorities.
The boat, which departed from Mauritania on January 2, was carrying 86 migrants, including 66 Pakistanis. 50 people—most of them from Pakistan—are believed to have drowned when the vessel capsized. The remains of those who perished are expected to be repatriated in the coming week.
The boat was headed toward Spain’s Canary Islands, a destination that has become a common but perilous alternative route for migrants seeking to reach Europe, after stricter border enforcement in Italy. Africa’s Atlantic Coast has seen a surge in such crossings, with migrant rights group Walking Borders reporting over 10,400 deaths on the route in 2024, marking the deadliest year on record.
Pakistani officials interviewed survivors of the wreck in Dakhla as part of the ongoing investigation. According to Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), victims had paid up to $14,285 each to human traffickers for the journey, which reportedly began in Ethiopia.
Authorities have arrested two suspects, including a woman, in connection with the trafficking operation, while eight others remain at large and have been placed on a stop list.
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