Jacob Brown
Around 7,000 people used the path between West Africa and the Canary Islands last month, up from 500 in January last year.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez have traveled to Mauritania to finalize agreements on migration and energy.
This visit comes in response to a significant increase in people-smuggling operations to the Canary Islands, with data revealing a surge in arrivals from West African shores.
Rising Migration Trends
Frontex, the EU’s border agency, is set to release figures indicating a sharp rise in the number of individuals undertaking perilous journeys from West Africa to the Spanish islands.
The leaders will meet with Mauritania’s President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani to discuss security, migration, and stability in the Sahel region, where Mauritania serves as a significant embarkation point for migrants bound for the Canaries.
Increasing Migration Routes
Sources highlight the West African route as the “most active” for people-smugglers, enticing travelers into hazardous journeys to the EU.
Data from the Spanish interior ministry reveals a substantial increase, with 7,270 individuals smuggled across the 900-mile stretch of water in January compared to 566 in the same month last year.
EU’s Strategic Alliances and Policies
With European parliamentary elections approaching in June and anti-migration sentiments intensifying, the EU aims to forge closer ties with Tunisia, Egypt, and now Mauritania to create strategic alliances.
In addition to addressing migration numbers, there is recognition of the necessity to establish legal pathways for migrants to fill labor gaps and support the clean energy industry.
Frontex’s Focus on Human Rights
Hans Leijtens, the recently appointed head of Frontex, emphasizes the importance of managing migration while upholding human rights.
He acknowledges the global nature of migration and stresses the need for effective return operations for individuals denied asylum in the EU.
Leijtens aims to embed human rights principles within Frontex, following previous criticism and accusations of human rights violations under his predecessor.
