Fatshimetrie commemorates today the sad anniversary of the sinking of the ferry Joola, an event that has deeply marked Senegalese maritime history. 22 years ago, on September 26, 2002, the Joola sank off the coast of Gambia, tragically taking with it nearly 2,000 lives. The families of the victims and the survivors have never stopped demanding justice and recognition, and it is with emotion that the opening of the memorial museum in Ziguinchor finally brings some of their demands to fruition.
This memorial museum is much more than a simple place of commemoration. It is a space for contemplation, memory and transmission, allowing us to learn lessons from the past to prevent such tragedies from happening again in the future. The families of the victims insist that we can forgive, but never forget. The collective amnesia that looms after so many years must not make us forget the weight of the Joola’s toll, even surpassing that of the famous sinking of the Titanic.
The quest for truth and justice remains at the heart of the demands of the victims’ families. The 2004 investigation reports pointed out many failings and errors that led to this tragedy. The overloading of the boat, its defective condition, the slowness of the rescue, all factors that contributed to this tragedy. The families are demanding the reopening of a judicial inquiry so that responsibilities can finally be established.
Beyond memory and justice, another demand persists: the refloating of the Joola. The possibility of exhibiting the wreck at the memorial museum would allow families who were never able to bury their loved ones to find a place of contemplation and to mourn. However, this request remained a dead letter for a long time, despite its technical feasibility.
On this day of remembrance, it is essential to remember, to pay tribute to the victims and to continue to ask for light to be shed on this tragedy. The sinking of the Joola remains a deep scar in Senegalese history, recalling the fragility of life at sea and the responsibility of the authorities to ensure the safety of travelers. May we, through this memory, work to ensure that justice is done and that such tragedies never happen again.