Spanish President begins West Africa tour in Mauritania to fight irregular immigration to Canary Islands
BARCELONA, Spain — Spain’s prime minister began a three-day tour of West Africa on Tuesday as the European nation struggles to contain the number of people making the dangerous boat journey across the Atlantic to Africa. Canary Islands.
The Spanish archipelago, located near the African coast and used as a springboard for migrants and refugees trying to reach mainland Europe, has seen more than 22,000 people land on its shores since January, according to the Spanish Interior Ministry, more than double the number of irregular arrivals for the same period last year.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez begins his visit to Mauritania before continuing south towards Gambia and Senegal. These three coastal countries have become the main departure points used by smugglers to launch overloaded boats. Thousands of Malian refugees fleeing violence and instability are among those embarking on the perilous Atlantic route to the Canaries, as well as unemployed people Youth of SenegalMauritania and other West African countries seeking better employment opportunities abroad.
There are also more and more adolescents and children Migrants travelling alone to the Canary Islands have been overwhelmed by local authorities tasked with processing them. Spanish authorities are preparing to welcome even more arrivals this autumn, when sailing conditions in the Atlantic Ocean between West Africa and the Spanish archipelago become more favourable.
To tackle this problem, Mr. Sánchez is expected to sign several bilateral agreements with his African counterparts and strengthen cooperation between Spanish and local security forces that work together to combat human trafficking. Spain will also expand its circular migration program, which allows migrants to come to Spain to work temporarily in fields such as agriculture. To address the root causes of migration, the Spanish government said it would also announce long-term investments and business partnerships in the areas of development, connectivity and education.
This is the second time the Spanish president has visited Mauritania this year. In February, Sánchez visited the largely deserted and impoverished country alongside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and announced 210 million euros (about $235 million) to help the country curb migration. Considered a model of stability in the volatile Sahel region, Mauritania hosts about 200,000 Malian refugees on its border.
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