Perhaps the European dream of young Africans is not to become a hero for a dana or to be crowned the wise man, but That has happened to an 18-year-old young man from Guinea-Conakry who arrived in a cayuco Spain along one of the most dangerous migratory routes.
He irregularly entered Canary Islands After passing through Senegal, he requested asylum and has been hosted by the Spanish Commission for Refugee Assistance (CEAR) for a year in Malaga, where he lived a normal life until saved a woman from the water in the middle of DANA and his feat jumped to social networks.
From then on Mansour Konte became an involuntary protagonist in the national media, He had to attend interviews and appear on television showsat the same time that he received some job offers and congratulations from neighbors and institutions.
And in two weeks his feat gave way to him being elected by the Malaga City Council, in recognition of his solidarity and dedication, to represent King Balthazar in the city’s traditional Three Wise Men parade, which will also always be embodied by a black person.
Designer suit to ascend the throne
As is customary, a well-known designer has been in charge of his costume, along with those of Melchior and Gaspar, so that he can sit – if the weather does not prevent it – on the throne of the float this January 5. And he even had to go to several tests until the clothing is adjusted in detail by the time.
Very polite, although sparse in words, Mansour has confessed that all of this is very good, but he thinks about his future. Just like this young man in his day, the Canary Islands migratory route – one of the most dangerous in the world – was overcome last year 46,843 people, 17.4% more than in 2023.
However, the collective ‘Caminando Fronteras’, which investigates disappearances of migrants at sea on their way to Spain, has revealed that, according to its balance sheet, 10,457 people lost their lives in 2024 trying to reach the Spanish coasts, an average of almost 30 per day, the vast majority (9,757) on the Atlantic route to the Canary Islands.
To the water without fear
Some remain in the water in their attempt. Mansour was not afraid of water that November 13 when the DANA hit Malaga and to rescue Cristina entered the wide river in which heavy rains turned a three-lane road. She had stopped in the middle without being able to move forward.
Given this dangerous situation, he told EFE, He went “very quickly” to her to extend his hand and together they continued the journey, but the woman responded crying that she could not walk, so he chose to carry her in his arms to get her out of there so she could calm down.
After saving her he wanted to continue lending a hand and collaborate with other neighbors in cleaning the houses where the mud had entered. The tragedy of Valencia. He remembers that in his country, when it rains a lot, the houses also fill with mud and they go out to help those who need it.
The same role as Baltasar in Malaga was played two years ago by someone who also had his share of the European dream: Hady Coulibaly, a 29-year-old African Muslim from Mali who, as an irregular migrant, jumped the Melilla border fence and requested asylum and international protection.
Like the Wizard King
Now, Mansour is happy and excited to learn about the tradition of the Three Wise Men in first person and is grateful that they chose him. To familiarize yourself with the atmosphere of this Christmas celebration, This Friday he fully participated in the parade of the Three Kings parade of his district, disguised as what the children expect him and the other Wise Men to give them: a gift box.
His accompanying pages for Baltasar’s mission They have a profile similar to yours: Fallou, from Senegal and asylum seeker, and Blanche, from Ivory Coast and CEAR worker.
He is still studying the job offers he received, the most important one would take him to León – as explained by those around him – and, although with uncertainty, it appeals to him. To all this, At the moment his status as an asylum seeker has not changed. The magic hasn’t worked on him yet.
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