Printed on
11/07/2025 – 15:36 GMT+2
The Senegalese navy intercepted 201 West African migrants, authorities stated on Wednesday, because the Atlantic Ocean crossing continues to be the preferred and deadliest migration route from Africa to Europe.
The operation was carried out by Senegalese marines primarily based in Foundiougne, within the Fatick area of western Senegal, the military stated in an announcement.
Sixty-nine folks have been stopped on land, the assertion stated, whereas 132 others have been intercepted aboard a small wood boat within the Saloum delta on Tuesday night.
Whereas migration to Europe has been steadily falling, the Atlantic Ocean crossing from West Africa to Spain’s Canary Islands has re-emerged since 2020.
Almost 47,000 folks disembarked within the Canaries in 2024, a rise from the practically 40,000 in 2023, in accordance with Spanish Inside Ministry figures.
The crossing is one of many deadliest on this planet.
Whereas there is no such thing as a correct loss of life toll due to the ignorance on departures from West Africa, the Spanish migrant rights group Strolling Borders estimates the victims are within the 1000’s this 12 months alone.
These arrested on Wednesday are of varied West African nationalities, together with a number of girls and youngsters, in accordance with the military’s public relations workplace, DIRPA.
The Saloum delta is an more and more fashionable departure level for migrants.
Whereas most migrants leaving Senegal are younger males, support employees within the Canary Islands say they’re more and more seeing girls and youngsters threat their lives as nicely.
Final 12 months, the EU signed a €210 million deal with Mauritania to cease smugglers from launching boats for Spain. However thus far the deal has had little impact on migrant arrivals.
In Senegal, winter sees a rise in tried journeys because the seasonal change lowers the depth of waves, however migrants select to take the danger all year long.
Migrant vessels that get misplaced or run into issues usually vanish within the Atlantic, with some drifting throughout the ocean for months till they’re discovered within the Caribbean or Latin America carrying solely human stays.
Till not too long ago, the route was principally utilized by migrants from West African nations fleeing poverty or violence.
However since final 12 months, migrants from international locations additional afield like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Yemen, Syria and Afghanistan have more and more launched into the fishing boats used to succeed in the European archipelago.
Further sources • AP
