By: Staff Writer
June 6, 2025
The Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) in St Vincent and the Grenadines are piecing together the puzzle as to how 11 alleged Malian refugees washed ashore on Little Bay on Canouan.
Investigators in St Vincent and the Grenadines are still conducting investigations, but so far they have recovered several passports indicating the deceased individuals were from the West African country of Mali.
The discovery comes just months after a boat with 13 dead bodies – some of whom also had Malian documents – was found washed ashore in St Kitts and Nevis.
Authorities in St Vincent and the Grenadines said they were alerted to the boat with the 11 deceased migrants on Monday.
Eujin Byun, the UN Refugee Agency’s global spokesperson, told the BBC the migrants – believed to be from Mali – had probably planned to go to the Canary Islands.
Given the small size of the boat recovered in St Vincent and the Grenadines, Ms Byun said it was “highly unlikely” those on board would have been attempting to reach the Caribbean.
The RSVGPF said it is working closely with regional and international partners to confirm the origins of the boat and the identities of those onboard.
The human remains have since been transported to the island of St. Vincent, where they are being held at the Kingstown mortuary for further forensic and investigative procedures.
“This incident is deeply concerning, and we understand the public’s interest in the matter,” police said. “We assure you that the RSVGPF is treating this investigation with the utmost seriousness and sensitivity.”
While the exact circumstances surrounding the tragic journey remain unclear, the discovery comes amid worsening instability in Mali, a landlocked country in West Africa facing severe security and humanitarian crises.
The US state department has issued a Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory for Mali since July 2023, citing ongoing threats of terrorism, kidnapping, and violent crime.
“Terrorist and armed groups continue plotting kidnappings and attacks in Mali,” the advisory notes, warning of attacks on public and diplomatic spaces frequently visited by foreigners.