Mauritania tightens coastal security, curbing migrant crossings to Spain's Canary Islands

Mauritanian authorities have markedly increased security along the Atlantic coast, especially around the port city of Nouadhibou, the main departure point for West African migrants aiming for the Spanish Canary Islands. The crackdown includes intensified coast‑guard patrols, heightened road checkpoints, and widespread identity checks in several towns.

The measures follow a 2024 migration partnership with the European Union, which has provided €210 million to finance coastal surveillance, anti‑smuggling operations and temporary reception centres. In a recent span, Mauritanian coast‑guard forces reported intercepting and rescuing more than 1,100 irregular migrants. The reinforced controls have sharply reduced the number of departures, leaving thousands of would‑be migrants in fear of arrest or expulsion and reporting instances of abuse.

Despite the security surge, attempts to cross the sea continue, driven by economic hardship and instability in countries such as Senegal, Guinea and Mali. NGOs have documented allegations of torture, rape and arbitrary expulsions linked to the new enforcement regime.