By Haddy Touray
The United Democratic Party (UDP) has expressed deep sorrow over confirmed reports that a migrants’ boat which departed from Nuimi Jinack on 17 November 2025, carrying more than 190 people, including women and children, has sunk at sea with no survivors.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the opposition party extended condolences to its Senior Executive Member, Lamin Manneh, and to Pa Manneh of Jinack, a longstanding UDP member, who both lost several close family members in the tragedy. The party also sympathised with all families affected across Jinack and other parts of the country.
The UDP said it stood in solidarity with the bereaved families and communities during what it described as a period of “unimaginable grief” while offering prayers for the departed and strength to those left behind.
The party noted that the incident followed similar deadly journeys, including a boat that left Kartong in October 2024, and warned that irregular migration had become a worsening national crisis.
It also expressed concern over reports of another boat that departed from Nuimi Jinack on 5 December 2025 and remains unaccounted for.
Raising alarm over the continued loss of young Gambians at sea, the UDP described irregular migration as a national emergency and called on the government to declare a State of Emergency on the issue.
The party urged the authorities to take urgent and coordinated measures, including strengthened public awareness campaigns in high-risk coastal communities, firm action against human trafficking networks, and socio-economic interventions to address youth unemployment, and enhanced regional cooperation and maritime safety responses.
The UDP also warned the public that current sea conditions were hazardous, stressing that no journey was worth the loss of life. It appealed to families, community leaders, and authorities to work together to prevent further departures.
The party reaffirmed its commitment to continue advocating for decisive action to protect Gambian lives.
