BANJUL: The death toll after a boat carrying Europe-bound migrants capsized off Gambia’s coast on New Year’s Eve has risen to 39, two government officials told Reuters, as survivors described the vessel as “overcrowded and dilapidated.”
Gambia’s defense ministry last week put the death toll at seven and said more than 200 people could have been on board.
A total of 112 people had been rescued as of Wednesday, said Sima Lowe, public relations officer for Gambia’s Immigration Department, and a senior defense ministry official who asked not to be named as he was not authorized to speak to press.
The migration route used by West Africans trying to reach Spain via the Canary Islands is one of the world’s deadliest.
Survivors interviewed by Reuters after being released from hospital in Gambia this week said the boat had been heading for Europe.
Their stories highlight the risks and challenges faced by would-be migrants from West Africa who are often fleeing poverty, unemployment and lack of opportunities in their home countries.
“It’s ... desperation driving me to risk my life, seeking better opportunities in Europe due to poverty and lack of prospects at home,” said Sadibou Fatty, who described the journey as “traumatic.”
“I survived the tragedy but lost friends and fellow passengers,” he said, adding that, unlike many others on board, he knew how to swim.
Of the 39 dead, 24 were recovered in Gambian territory, while 15 were recovered in Senegalese territory, the defense official said.
Passengers on board included citizens of Gambia, Senegal, Guinea, Mali, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and Sierra Leone, the official said.
“My friends in Europe inspired me to take the ‘back way,’” said Kajali Camara, another survivor, referring to irregular immigration routes via small boats.
“They’re supporting their families back home, and I wanted a better life too,” he said.
Gambia’s government said it intercepted more than 2,700 would-be migrants in 2025.
During the first 11 months of 2025, irregular migration into the European Union along the West African route fell 60 percent, according to the EU’s border agency Frontex.
The drop is largely due to stronger prevention efforts by departure countries working with EU member states, Frontex has said.
Thirty-nine dead in Gambia migrant boat sinking, officials say
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Thirty-nine dead in Gambia migrant boat sinking, officials say
- The migration route used by West Africans trying to reach Spain via the Canary Islands is one of the world’s deadliest
8 in 10 British Muslims face ‘financial faith penalty’ when seeking home finance, survey finds
- Restricted choices plague potential buyers
LONDON: Eight in 10 British Muslims say their home finance choices are restricted because of their faith, according to a new national survey that highlighted what researchers describe as a growing “financial faith penalty” in the UK housing market.
The report, published by Islamic home finance fintech firm Offa, found that 80 percent of Muslim respondents believe their religious beliefs limit their access to suitable home finance, while those who do use Islamic products often face slower decisions, heavier paperwork and poorer customer experiences than in the conventional mortgage market.
Based on surveys of 1,000 British Muslims conducted by Muslim Census, and 2,000 non-Muslims carried out by OnePoll, the research calls on providers, brokers and policymakers to modernize Islamic home finance and improve access to Sharia-compliant products.
Among the 24.3 percent of British Muslims who have used Islamic home finance, just 5 percent said they had received a same-day decision.
Some 62 percent waited up to two weeks, while 33 percent waited more than 15 days, including 16 percent who waited over a month.
Long decision times were cited as the biggest challenge by 28 percent of respondents, followed by excessive paperwork (22.6 percent) and poor customer service (18.9 percent).
Islamic home finance differs from conventional mortgages by avoiding interest and steering investment away from sectors considered harmful to society, including gambling, alcohol, tobacco, arms trading and animal testing.
Sagheer Malik, chief commercial officer and managing director of home finance at Offa, said the findings showed British Muslims were being underserved by outdated systems.
Malik said: “Property is the asset class of choice for many of the UK’s 3.87 million Muslims, both as a route to generational wealth and as a long-term financial foundation, yet our insightful research report reveals that British Muslims are being underserved and deterred by slow, outdated and opaque Islamic home finance provision.
“This is not a niche concern. It goes to the heart of financial fairness and inclusion in modern Britain.”
He added that Muslims deserved Sharia-compliant products that matched mainstream standards on “price, speed and simplicity.”
Despite strong demand, uptake remains low.
Only 12.8 percent of British Muslims surveyed said they currently use Islamic home finance, with a further 11.5 percent having done so in the past. More than three quarters (75.7 percent) have never used it.
Faith plays a central role in financial decisions, with 94.2 percent saying it is important that their financial products align with their ethical or religious beliefs. Yet more than half of those using conventional mortgages said they felt unhappy or uneasy about doing so because of their faith.
The study also found that British Muslims share similar home ownership aspirations to the wider population, with 79.1 percent citing the desire to provide a stable home for their family, while 18.6 percent said building generational wealth was their main motivation. Only 2.2 percent said they did not want to own a home.
The report suggests Islamic finance could appeal beyond Muslim communities. While 64 percent of non-Muslim respondents had never heard of Islamic home finance, 63 percent said they favored its ethical principles once explained.
Younger generations were the most receptive, with 43 percent of Generation Z and 37 percent of millennials saying they would consider using Islamic home finance, compared with just 7 percent of baby boomers. More than three quarters of Gen Z and 72 percent of millennials also said it was important that their finance provider avoided investing in ethically harmful sectors.
Offa said the findings pointed to an opportunity to expand ethical finance in the UK, provided the industry can deliver faster, simpler and more transparent services.
