In a chilling discovery that exposes the dangers of desperate migration, a boat containing 11 decomposed bodies washed ashore on Canouan Island in the Caribbean. The Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force suggested these individuals were fleeing a nation currently under a U.S. State Department high-level travel advisory. What prompted citizens of Mali to attempt such a dangerous migration journey?
Grim Discovery on Caribbean Shores
A vessel containing the decomposed remains of 11 people was discovered washed up near Little Bay, Cherry Hill, on the eastern shore of Canouan Island in the Caribbean. The Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force reported that the bodies were in an advanced state of decomposition, with some not fully intact.
Some really grim news from St. Kitts and Nevis where about 19 decomposing bodies were found in a boat drifting off Nevis. pic.twitter.com/sBScV7fnW8
— Nelcia Charlemagne (@nelciathewriter) January 30, 2025
“During the initial examination of the vessel, what appears to be decomposed human remains were found onboard. The identities and circumstances surrounding the discovery are yet to be determined,” stated the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force in their official communication.
The wooden boat and 11 bodies that washed ashore in Little Bay, Cherry Hill, on the island of Canouan last Monday, May 26, 2025, may have originated from the Republic of Mali, in West Africa.
Read More: https://t.co/EgCMmU1sM1 pic.twitter.com/mX5jBJXrNX
— Searchlight SVG (@SearchlightSVG) May 30, 2025
Investigation Reveals Mali Connection
Several passports from the Republic of Mali were found aboard the vessel, providing a critical clue about the victims’ origins. Mali has been experiencing ongoing violence since 2012, creating conditions that have forced many citizens to flee the country.
The U.S. State Department issued a high-level travel advisory for Mali in July 2023, warning of crime, terrorism, and kidnapping risks throughout the country. This context helps explain why citizens might risk dangerous migration routes to escape increasingly dangerous living conditions.
“This incident is deeply concerning, and we understand the public’s interest in the matter,” authorities noted in their statement about the ongoing investigation. “We assure you that the RSVGPF is treating this investigation with the utmost seriousness and sensitivity.”
Pattern of Tragic Migration Attempts
This incident follows a similar case from January in St. Kitts and Nevis, where 19 bodies were discovered under comparable circumstances. Police believe the individuals in both incidents were from Mali and had been at sea for an extended period, highlighting the increasing desperation of migrants from the region.
Eujin Byun from the UN Refugee Agency suggested these migrants were likely aiming for the Canary Islands rather than the Caribbean. “Desperate people make desperate decisions,” Byun stated, encapsulating the underlying tragedy of these migration attempts.
The police are currently working with regional and international partners to determine the precise origins of the vessel and confirm the identities of the individuals. Authorities have committed to “pursuing every lead and ensuring that all appropriate protocols are followed” in this sensitive investigation.
Sources: