AU sympathises with victims of boat disaster in Central African Republic

The African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat, has offered his condolences to the government of the Central African Republic (CAR) over the recent boat disaster that killed dozens of people.

Faki also expressed his sympathy to the families affected by the boat mishap.

The AU chairperson said on social media X, formerly known as Twitter, that “All of our solidarity is with the government and people of the CAR following the sinking of a boat on the Mpoko river, which caused deaths and injuries.”

The death toll from the accident that occurred Friday in the country has risen to 62, up from 58 initially reported, locals and authorities said on Sunday.

The accident occurred on Friday when a boat carrying more than 300 people over the river Mpoko in Bangui, CAR’s capital city, capsized.

According to witnesses, the passengers were traveling to the village of Mokelo, to bury the corpse of a group leader.

Boat disasters are not uncommon in the Central African Republic.

A government spokesperson, Maxime Balalou, has demanded increased compliance with river transport safety rules.

He promised that an investigation would be launched into the tragedy, as well as the establishment of a fund to assist the victims’ relatives.