Guinea-Bissau: 8 Senegalese fishermen missing in an accident at sea

One survivor and 8 people missing. This is the result of an accident at sea, which occurred on August 6 off the coast of Guinea-Bissau. The search is underway to find the other members of the crew, who left Rufisque around 20 days ago.

OUSSOUYE – According to a security source who cites the only survivor to date, the Senegalese-registered canoe capsized on Thursday, August 6, 2026, towards Bileu, in Guinea-Bissau. This boat, which, she said, had 9 people on board, hit a sandbank and split into several pieces. Each member of the crew, he continues, held on to a floating object. Reporting the survivor’s statement, our source indicates that the canoe left Rufisque on July 21, 2026. After 10 days of fishing, our interlocutor informs, the boat set off on its way back. After 5 days of navigation, the irreparable happened.

The information collected indicates that Djokine Mendy, the survivor, lost track of his comrades after the accident, with the exception of one whom he tried to save, in vain. “When the canoe capsized, I rushed to hold him back. Because knowing he can’t swim. But after two days, he told me he couldn’t take it anymore. He told me to let him go and fight to save myself. I released him, despite myself, and continued to hold on to the board until I landed at Cacheu beach. I was picked up by the people. They then handed me over to the Guinea-Bissau soldiers who, in turn, took me to the Senegalese authorities,” reports Djokine Mendy to the Cap-Skirring security forces, who picked him up on Sunday August 9.

The survivor, aged 35, lives in Grand-Yoff, in Dakar. He is the father of three children. The security source emphasizes that the search, which has so far been in vain, continues in Guinea-Bissau waters to try to find the other members of the crew. The boat, she says, was used to fishing on the Liberian and Sierra Leonean coasts.