Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has announced a series of agreements with the West African nation of Mauritania to stem a surge in migrants making the dangerous Atlantic journey to the Canary Islands.
Speaking alongside Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani in Nouakchott, Sánchez said Spain will expand its circular migration programme to Mauritanians and renew cooperation between the two nations’ security forces to combat people smuggling and trafficking networks.
The two countries also expressed ‘their commitment to work together to promote safe, orderly and regular migration’ and guarantee ‘the fair and humane treatment of migrants’, in a joint declaration.
Alongside the joint declaration, Spain and Mauritania have signed a memorandum of understanding to implement ‘a pilot project for the selection of Mauritanian workers in their country of origin’ to work in Spain, without giving figures.
It includes ‘circular migration programmes … with a particular focus on young people and women’, the joint declaration said.
‘Despite the rhetoric that is growing in Europe, migration is not a problem,’ Sánchez said, openly recognising the need for migrant workers in Spain’s ageing society. ‘It is a need that involves certain problems, and for this we must push formulas that allow us to manage the phenomenon of migration in a humane, safe and orderly way, to benefit our respective societies.’
Sánchez is on a three-day tour of West Africa to reinforce bilateral relations with Mauritania, Gambia and Senegal, where the majority of migrant boats reaching the Canary Islands are being launched from. ALSO READ: Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez heads to West Africa as migrant arrivals surge.
The Spanish archipelago has seen more than 22,000 people land on its shores since January, more than double the number of irregular arrivals for the same period last year, according to Spain’s Interior Ministry. ALSO READ: Canary Islands migrant arrivals up 126% year-on-year, as Sánchez plans west Africa trip.
‘Until not long ago Spain was also a country of migrants … they aspired to better lives, much like those who take great risks and take on this dangerous adventure,’ Sánchez said.
Among those making it to the Canaries are thousands of Malian refugees fleeing violence and instability in the Sahelian nation as well as youth from Senegal, Mauritania and other West African countries who are seeking better job opportunities abroad.
There are also increasingly more teenagers and children traveling alone to the Canary Islands, which has overwhelmed the local government responsible for their care. Spanish authorities say they are bracing for even more arrivals this fall when sailing conditions in the deadly Atlantic Ocean between West Africa and the archipelago are more favourable.
It’s the second time that Sánchez has visited Mauritania this year. In February, he travelled alongside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and announced 210 million euros to help the country curb migration. Seen as a beacon of stability in the volatile Sahel region, Mauritania hosts about 200,000 Malian refugees on its border.
Ghazouani, who was re-elected in June, thanked Sánchez for Spain’s ‘constant availability to develop our country’ and seek regular migration pathways for its citizens.
The Mauritanian presidency on Monday said MPs would meet on 2 September to examine texts aimed at tightening legislation on illegal migration.
They include the creation of a specialised court to crack down on migrant smuggling and the introduction of new criminal provisions.
Madrid estimates there are some 200,000 people in Mauritania waiting to go to the Canaries.
The leaders said their governments will hold a high level meeting in Mauritania in early 2025. In addition to the migration and security agreements, Spain launched on Tuesday a Spanish-Mauritanian business council to boost investments and announced it would open a branch of the Cervantes Institute in Mauritania to promote Spanish language and culture.
La migración es una cuestión de principios morales, de solidaridad y de dignidad. Pero también es riqueza, desarrollo y prosperidad.
— Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) August 27, 2024
España y Mauritania adoptamos hoy acuerdos con un nuevo enfoque integral que nos permitirán gestionar el fenómeno migratorio en beneficio de… pic.twitter.com/ptKhAYtdrx
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