Mauritania rescues 1,082 migrants in two weeks on Atlantic route to Canary Islands

Mauritanian authorities intercepted or rescued 1,082 migrants over a 15‑day period on the Atlantic migration route toward the Spanish Canary Islands. Nine operations were carried out between 28 May and 11 June, targeting vessels from Gambia, Guinea and other West‑African nations. Most of those intercepted were Senegalese and Gambian, including at least 171 women and 95 minors. All rescued persons received humanitarian assistance in line with national and international maritime‑rescue obligations.

On 11 June, the coast guard seized a pirogue off Nouadhibou carrying 77 Guinean migrants – 59 men, 11 women and 7 children – that had departed Guinea on 29 May. The migrants were taken into care according to legal and humanitarian procedures. NGOs note that while overall arrivals to Europe have fell, the lethality of the Atlantic route to the Canaries has risen, with 1,317 deaths recorded in the first five months of 2026.