Spain calls for increased Frontex presence in Africa

Spanish authorities, including the Guardia Civil, are calling for an increased presence of Frontex in Africa to curb irregular migration toward the Canary Islands. Lieutenant General Javier Moscoso, who leads the Guardia Civil's efforts against human trafficking, argued that European intervention should focus on preventing departures in countries of origin rather than solely reacting once vessels reach Spanish waters.

Moscoso emphasized that detection capabilities must be paired with interception capabilities, specifically requesting more aerial and maritime resources from Frontex in African nations. This request comes as migration routes shift southward; increased controls in Morocco, Mauritania, and Senegal have led to a rise in departures from Gambia and Guinea-Conakry, resulting in longer and more dangerous sea crossings.

Anselmo Pestana, the Government Delegate in the Canary Islands, supported this stance, noting that the Ministry of the Interior favors greater Frontex involvement in African countries to combat trafficking mafias. He highlighted that while European investment has been fundamental, the agency's previous withdrawal from certain African regions in 2018 coincided with a shift in how migration routes are managed.