According to Somalia’s Information Minister, Daud Aweis, two migrant boats sank off the coast of Madagascar over the weekend, killing at least 22 Somali residents.

The boats sailed several hundred miles from Somalia to the French Indian Ocean enclave of Mayotte on November 2, according to Madagascar’s Port, Maritime, and River Authority (APMF).

The local fisherman saw the first boat drifting on Friday near Nosy Iranja, according to a report released by the port administration on Saturday. According to the authority, they saved 25 people—10 men and 15 women—but seven residents perished.

According to APMF, a second boat carrying 38 passengers reached Port du Cratère in Madagascar. The maritime authorities stated that 23 people had been rescued, however, they did not provide the number of fatalities from the second boat.

The death toll was verified at 22 by Somali Information Minister Aweis, who cited data from his counterparts in Madagascar.

“There were about 70 Somalis, 22 of them died. One boat was carrying 38 people and the other boat was carrying 32 people,” Aweis said on state-owned television late on Sunday.

Thousands of individuals have tried to cross to Mayotte in recent decades because it offers access to the French social system and a higher level of living.

Aweis described the trip organisers as criminals engaged in illegal immigration and stated that Somalia would look into the origins of the vessels.

“This is also a message of warning to those who want to immigrate illegally before they go and die in such a manner. It is unfortunate people still go despite the danger,” he added.

Traffickers wrecked their boat off the Comoros islands in early November, killing at least 25 people.

The Patriotic Front (PF) faction led by former Zambian President, Edgar Lungu, has accused President Hakainde Hichilema of politicizing traditional ceremonies and turning cultural events into platforms for political rallies aimed at promoting the ruling UPND.

Chairperson for Information and Publicity of the major opposition party, Emmanuel Mwamba, who made the allegations in a statement in Lusaka on Monday,
claimed that political activities had been “visibly integrated into every traditional ceremony that President Hichilema has attended or officiated in recent times.”

Mwamba stated that traditional ceremonies had increasingly become political events, where traditional leaders and opposition lawmakers were gathered to endorse Hichilema and pledge allegiance to his government.

“Pictures from these ceremonies clearly depict a disturbing trend, with UPND regalia visibly scattered throughout the crowd,” Mwamba said in the statement.

He also criticised the head of state for recognising Mafinga MP, Robert Chabinga, as the Leader of the opposition in Parliament and PF Acting President, despite ongoing legal proceedings regarding the matter.

“President Hichilema openly shows contempt by recognising Chabinga, even when the matter remains active in court,” Mwamba said.

He further accused the president of using traditional ceremonies as platforms to engage in hate speech and to parade members of the opposition and PF defectors, nothing that the practice is capable of sowing discord and undermining unity within the opposition.

“This hypocrisy is evident. When he was in the opposition, President Hichilema punished UPND MPs, mayors, and council chairpersons for merely welcoming President Edgar Lungu in their districts,” he added.

Mwamba cited the cases of Kaoma Council Chairperson Bindundu Mutti and Kafue Council Chairperson Thomas Zulu, who were expelled from the UPND for welcoming Lungu during his national duties.

He also referenced the suspension of Prof. Geoffrey Lungwangwa and Hon. Teddy Kasonso for supporting Bill 10, which he argued showed Hichilema’s intolerance of differing views and his violation of parliamentary independence.

He therefore, urged traditional leaders to recognise the alleged threat that Hichilema poses to cultural events and to ensure that such ceremonies were not politicised, despite the pressure from State House.