A tiny boat sank in the Niger River, killing 13 people, according to sources who spoke to AFP on Thursday on the border between Niger and Benin.
The land border between Niger and Benin has been blocked for over two years by the country’s military authorities due to accusations that Cotonou’s neighbour is attempting to disrupt the West African country.
But products and people have been crossing the river every day.
“There were 13 killed and some survivors,” a resident of the Nigerien border town Gaya said, of Wednesday’s sinking. Local press, who reported the same toll, said a search was underway.
“The pirogue (small boat) was carrying essentially Nigeriens. It overturned between Gaya in Niger and the town of Malanville (in Benin),” another Nigerien resident told AFP, who spoke of “around 10 dead. “
It is unclear what caused the boat to sink. But, such incidents have occurred on the Niger River, where small boats known as pirogues are often overloaded.
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In August 2023, two of six occupants of a pirogue died after a boat sank.
In February 2019, at least 43 people, including children, died when their vessel carried a cargo of grains as well as dozens of traders sank.
