Senegal and Morocco launch voluntary repatriation of 400 migrants

A voluntary repatriation operation is set to begin on Friday, October 30, 2026, to return at least 400 Senegalese nationals from Morocco to Senegal. The migrants are currently being hosted in reception centers in Argoub and Bir-Gandouz, located in southern Morocco.

The operation is being coordinated between Senegalese consular authorities and Moroccan officials. To facilitate the movement, ten buses with a capacity of 40 passengers each have been mobilized. The first convoy, consisting of three vehicles, is scheduled to depart this Friday, with subsequent departures planned for November 3 and November 5. An additional repatriation operation is also being prepared for the second week of November.

This initiative follows recent migration activity in the region. Separately, the Moroccan Royal Navy reported intercepting three pirogues carrying at least 500 passengers, including approximately 300 Senegalese, in Moroccan territorial waters between October 19 and October 25.