Ferry disaster: Navy chief fired
2002-10-15 11:08
Dakar - Senegal's President Abdoulaye Wade fired the head of the navy Monday as a result of last month's ferry disaster in which about 1 000 people died, the president's office announced.
Wade told national radio he had issued a decree dismissing Navy chief Colonel Ousseynou Kombo following the results of the
investigations into the September 26 tragedy.
A total of 1 034 people - twice the vessel's capacity - were officially known to have been on board the Joola when it sank on September 26 in stormy seas off the coast of Gambia, which lies between the northern and southern halves of Senegal.
Only 64 people survived, making it the worst maritime
accident not only in Senegal, but also in all of Africa's history.
Wade has already accepted the resignations of the two ministers most closely associated with the catastrophe, Transport Minister Youssouph Sakho and Armed Forces Minister Youba Sambou.
The navy was in charge of managing the ship.
Just after the disaster, the navy command had backed the theory that bad weather caused the vessel to sink.
However, official investigations also blamed overcrowding and the crew's failure to observe proper safety procedures.
- Sapa-AFP
- SAPA