Mauritania: 210 million euros from the EU against illegal immigration

Mauritania and the EU signed a partnership on Thursday in Nouakchott to control the wave of migration to the Canary Islands. This Spanish territory has become the strategic objective of illegal immigrants who are targeting Europe.

“The route between Mauritania and the Canary Islands is one of the deadliest and most dangerous to take. They can no longer be counted. There are many tragedies along this road. Fighting smugglers saves lives. Many of these people embark on a journey from which they never reach the intended destination. This is why it is of crucial importance that we strengthen our partnership and also support border management, search and rescue. » Declares Ylva Johansson, European Commissioner for Home Affairs.

The agreement provides 210 million euros for Mauritania, in order to manage migration and fight against smugglers.

“I would like to reassure my brothers and sisters, the citizens of Mauritania, who are the first beneficiaries of the signing of this common agreement, which is more than a political agreement without a binding aspect” Abdessalam Ould Mohamed Saleh, Mauritanian Minister of economy and sustainable development.

Johansson was accompanied by Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska and Belgium's Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration, who represented the 27 EU member states.

The European officials were welcomed by the Mauritanian President, Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, as well as the Minister of the Interior and Decentralization, Mohamed Ahmed Mohamed Lemine, and the Minister of the Economy and Sustainable Development, Abdessalam Mohamed Saleh.

Nearly 12,000 migrants and refugees reached the Canary Islands in the first two months of the year, according to the Spanish Interior Ministry.

Spain has for years deployed national police and civil guards to Mauritania to help local authorities prevent migrants from Mauritania, Mali, Senegal and other neighboring countries from embarking on an Atlantic crossing to Europe the country.

Conflict and instability in the Sahel, compounded by the effects of climate change, rising costs of living and high youth unemployment, have pushed thousands of people onto overcrowded fishing boats for the Canary Islands , a springboard to continental Europe.

While thousands have survived the risky journey, many die or disappear along the way with remains sometimes washing up on the other side of the Atlantic.

At least 191 migrants have been reported dead or missing this year en route to the Canary Islands, according to the International Organization for Migration