On a three-day tour of West Africa, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez visited Mauritania to open legal immigration channels with the West African country.
Visiting Mauritania for the second time this year, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced on Tuesday, August 28, a series of agreements with the West African country, in order tostem the influx of illegal migrantsever more numerous to risk their lives to reach the Canary Islands.
The trip of the Spanish head of government to Nouakchott is part of a three-day tour of West Africa from August 27 to August 29, whose next stops will be Gambia and Senegal. It is from these countries, with Mauritania, that the majority of migrant boats leave to cross the Atlantic to the Canary Islands.
Pedro Sánchez calls for “humane” management, “safe and orderly” migration
Defending the idea that migration is a matter of “moral principles, solidarity and dignity”, Pedro Sanchez said he wanted to open legal migration channels with Mauritania and renew cooperation between the security forces of the two countries to combat human trafficking.
Spain plans to establish a “circular migration program” with Mauritania, based on the model the country established with Morocco. The program, which aims to curb illegal immigration while filling labor shortages in Spain’s agricultural sector, aims to offer visas for a limited period to nationals of the countries concerned, as part of seasonal employment.
“Despite the rhetoric that is developing in Europe, migration is not a problem,” the Spanish prime minister said, openly acknowledging the need for migrant workers in Spain’s ageing society. “It is a need that involves certain problemsand for this we must propose formulas that allow us to manage the phenomenon of migration in a humane, safe and orderly manner, for the benefit of our respective societies.
The Prime Minister expressed his gratitude to the Mauritanian government “for his efforts in the fight against irregular migration and his cooperation in the fight against human trafficking networks.”
Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani thanked Pedro Sánchez, who has already visited Mauritania twice this year, for “Spain’s constant commitment to the development of our country”.
The Canary Islands, a springboard to reach continental Europe
Located near the African coast, the Canary Islands serve as a springboard for migrants aspiring to reach continental Europe. In 2024, more than 22,000 people landed on their shores in the archipelagomore than double the number of irregular arrivals for the same period the previous year, according to the Spanish Interior Ministry.
These people include young people looking for better jobs abroad, but also thousands of Malian refugees fleeing the violence and instability in the Sahel region.
To alert Ursula Von der Leyen to the urgent need for European support to tackle the migration crisis,The authorities of the Canary Islands have sent an official invitation to the President of the European Commission.
Last February, The European leader visited Mauritania in the presence of Pedro Sánchez, and announced aid of 210 million euros to the country, particularly affected by the migration crisis.