Money for Mauritania?

More and more migrants stranded on the Canary Islands

Migrants in a Spanish sea rescue boat

(Bild: AFP)

6000 migrants were stranded on the Spanish Canary Islands in January. Many of them come from Mauritania. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are therefore traveling to the country to step up the fight against illegal migration.

Around 83 percent of all refugee boats that reached the Canary Islands in January departed from the coast of Mauritania. Others come from Senegal and Gambia, for example. According to the Spanish refugee NGO Caminando Fronteras, the journey from the West African Atlantic coast to the Canary Islands has now become the world's most dangerous route. Last year, 6007 migrants drowned, died of thirst or starved to death while trying to reach Europe.

Last weekend, the Spanish sea rescue service picked up up to 1,000 boat refugees off the Canary Islands and brought them ashore. The weather conditions in the Atlantic, which is usually stormy at this time of year, are currently favorable.

Migrants arriving in the Canary Islands

(Bild: AP)

The sea rescue service brought up to 1,000 migrants ashore at the weekend.

(Bild: AFP)

Cooperation agreement only postpones problem
Both Spain and the EU already have cooperation agreements with Senegal and Mauritania to reduce the number of migrants. Nevertheless, Mauritania in particular has become a transit country for refugees from the Sahel on their way to Europe. Members of the Islamic State from Mali and Niger also travel via Mauritania.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen now wants to offer the Mauritanian government around 200 million euros, although the country already receives EU funds (around 15 million euros for migration per year). Experts fear that this could only shift the problem further south to Senegal. Drought disasters and political and social instability in many African countries are among the factors contributing to the flight to Europe.