The ship was plying the route from Ziguinchor in the Casamance region to the Senegalese capital, Dakar, when it ran into a violent storm, farther out to sea than it was licensed to travel.

A government inquiry principally blamed negligence, and accusations were directed at both the Senegalese president Abdoulaye Wade and premier Mame Madior Boye.

Due to the presence of The Gambia between Casamance and the central/northern Senegal, travel options were limited to a damaged eastern road or a western sea route.

[2] At about 1:30 pm on 26 September 2002, Le Joola started from Ziguinchor in the Casamance region on one of its frequent voyages between southern Senegal and Dakar.

[2] The last call from the ferry staff was broadcast to a maritime security center in Dakar at 10 pm and reported good traveling conditions.

Survivors recalled the ferry overturning swiftly during heavy rain, with one describing the boat tilting before capsizing, causing a flood.

Another survivor recounted clinging to the ferry's keel after swimming through a partially open window, while another described being tossed by winds and waves until finding refuge on part of the overturned vessel.

[5] In an interview, Ismaila Ndaw, a retired diver from the Senegalese Navy who had been in charge of security on the Joola until shortly before it sank, recalled that the life jackets had been deliberately bound tightly together to prevent passengers from accessing them, noting "It was a mess: Any time there was a small incident, everyone would rush to take one.

However, Ndaw explained that they lacked the necessary equipment, such as welding torches, to breach the hull, and opening the cabin doors risked causing the already-floating boat to sink.

The multitude of mistakes that contributed to the tragedy have been extensively documented: Le Joola lacked a sailing license; its crew neglected to consult the weather forecaster before departure; and the captain frequently failed to ensure proper balance of the ferry.

[2] Potential factors such as engine failure, navigational errors, adverse weather conditions, inadequate maintenance, and overcrowding—or a combination thereof—have been suggested as likely causes.

The dead included passengers from at least 11 countries beside Senegal: Cameroon, Guinea, Ghana, Nigeria, France, Spain, Norway, Belgium, Lebanon, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.

[11] Officials were charged with failure to respond quickly enough to the disaster, including high-ranking members of the Armed Forces of Senegal who were transferred to other posts.

On 12 September 2008, French judge Jean-Wilfrid Noël delivered an indictment of nine Senegalese officials, including Boye and former Army Chief of Staff General Babacar Gaye.

[15][16] Associations representing victims from Senegal and France have advocated for the recovery of the sunken vessel, which lies at a depth of approximately 20 meters (60 feet) and is believed to contain numerous bodies.

[20] For the 20th anniversary, directors Efrem Gebreab and Nicola Milne produced a documentary, "The Joola: Africa’s Titanic," for BBC World Service.

[21] In Ziguinchor, a customary observance occurs annually to commemorate the sinking of the vessel, with community members assembling to collectively offer prayers.

[3] In December 2019, Senegalese authorities agreed to build a national Le Joola memorial museum in Ziguinchor, at an estimated cost three billion CFA francs.

Designed to honor the victims while providing educational insights, it is expected to feature exhibits on maritime history in Casamance, the shipwreck, and lessons learned from the disaster.