Sierra Leonean Reportedly Sole Survivor of Mediterranean Boat Capsize, 50 Others Feared Dead
Salamatu Y. Kamara A Sierra Leonean man, identified as Ebrima Conteh, has reportedly survived after a boat carrying 51 migrants capsized in the Mediterranean Sea, according to a report by QTV Gambia. The tragedy was confirmed by the UNHCR on Sunday, January 25, 2026.
Conteh was rescued by the merchant vessel STAR after spending nearly 24 hours in the water, highlighting the extreme risks faced by sub-Saharan Africans attempting to cross the Mediterranean in search of safety and better opportunities.
Authorities fear that the remaining 50 passengers perished in the incident. Several other migrant boats are reported missing, leaving hundreds of sub-Saharan Africans unaccounted for.
The incident underscores the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Mediterranean, where thousands risk their lives each year fleeing conflict, poverty, and instability in their home countries.
