Mauritanian authorities report a significant drop in migrant departures from the country's Atlantic coast due to intensified border controls and coastal surveillance. Figures provided by Ahmed Moulaye, Head of the Fight Against Irregular Maritime Migration at the Mauritanian Coast Guard, show over 8,000 attempted crossings in 2024, falling to around 4,300 in 2025, with only 126 intercepted by the fourth month of 2026. The crackdown, supported by the European Union, includes arrests of suspected smuggling networks and increased patrols in key departure zones like Nouadhibou and Nouakchott. Nouadhibou, a major transit hub for West African migrants, has historically seen thousands from Senegal, The Gambia and Guinea pass through while saving for dangerous sea journeys to Spain's Canary Islands aboard overcrowded wooden pirogues. Despite the decline in departures, many migrants remain in the city, unable to return home or move forward. Police checks and deportations have become routine, raising concerns from human rights groups over alleged abuse and mass expulsions. Ahmed, a 34-year-old Senegalese migrant, said economic hardship drives the desire to leave Africa, stating, "There is not a single young African who wants to stay in Africa. We all have the desire to go to Europe." Laylay, a Senegalese mason who has attempted the Atlantic crossing three times, argued that irregular migration will only stop if African countries open factories and Europe offers more visas. He said migrants are not seeking charity but work opportunities. The EU's support focuses on border management, anti-smuggling efforts, and humanitarian aid for those rescued at sea. However, migrants in Nouadhibou say these measures do not address the root causes of migration, including unemployment, poverty and lack of legal pathways. For now, while departures are down, the determination to reach Europe persists among those stranded in the coastal city.
The Mauritanian coast guard reports a drop in migrant departures from over 8,000 in 2024 to around 4,300 in 2025, yet the underlying push factors remain unchanged. A Senegalese migrant named Ahmed stated plainly that no young African wants to stay in Africa, exposing the depth of despair that no border patrol can fix. Laylay, who attempted the Atlantic crossing three times, said what people want is work—not rescue operations or patrols. If migration is to slow, the answer lies in factories and visas, not interceptions.
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