At least 13 people have died after a small boat capsized on the Niger River along the border between Niger and Benin, local sources told AFP on Thursday.
The incident occurred on Wednesday between the Nigerien town of Gaya and Malanville in Benin. While the exact cause of the accident remains unclear, local reports suggest the boat—known as a pirogue—was carrying mostly Nigerien passengers when it overturned.
“There were 13 killed and some survivors,” a Gaya resident told AFP. Another local witness estimated “around 10 dead,” noting that the boat was heavily laden with passengers.
Local media confirmed the casualty figure and said search and rescue efforts were ongoing.
Such accidents are tragically common on the Niger River, where small wooden boats are frequently used to transport people and goods, often beyond their safe capacity.
Overcrowding, lack of life jackets, and poor weather conditions are frequent contributors to these deadly mishaps.
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Despite a near two-year closure of the land border by Niger’s military rulers—who accuse neighboring Benin of trying to destabilize the country—river crossings between the two nations have continued daily.
This latest incident adds to a grim history of river disasters in the region. In August 2023, two people died when a pirogue sank with six people on board.
A more devastating tragedy occurred in February 2019, when at least 43 people, including children, lost their lives after a boat transporting grain and traders capsized.
Authorities have yet to issue an official statement on the latest tragedy.