Mauritania has become the main departure country for migrants trying to reach Spain by sea, according to new data released by the Spanish National Security Department (DSN). In 2024 alone, about 25,000 migrants left Mauritania’s coast heading toward Spain. This number is nearly equal to the combined total of those departing from Morocco and Algeria.
This trend highlights Mauritania’s growing role in migration routes from West Africa to Europe. The DSN, which reports directly to the Spanish government, warned that this pressure may increase in the future due to rising instability in the Sahel region, especially along the border with Mali.
In total, Spain saw a record 61,372 migrant arrivals by sea in 2024, a jump of over 10% compared to the previous year. This broke the earlier record set in 2018, when 57,498 migrants arrived. Most of these migrants landed in the Canary Islands, which experienced an 18% increase in arrivals, with 46,843 people reaching its shores. The Balearic Islands also saw a sharp rise of more than 158%, receiving 5,882 migrants.
The report also noted the number of departures from other countries: 13,217 from Morocco, 12,038 from Algeria, 8,970 from Senegal (mainly to the Canary Islands), and 250 from Guinea-Bissau.
Spain’s government is closely monitoring this surge. The DSN said the changes in migration routes are partly due to the “partial closing” of the Central Mediterranean route, which traditionally saw boats leaving from Libya and Tunisia toward Italy. Now, more migrants are shifting westward, using the Atlantic route through Mauritania, Senegal, and The Gambia.
Authorities are also concerned about increasing Russian influence in parts of the Sahel, particularly in areas near Mauritania. This adds to the region’s political instability and may lead to more people fleeing toward Europe.
Earlier this year, Mauritania dismantled hundreds of migrant smuggling networks, showing its effort to manage the growing number of departures. However, experts believe that as long as poverty, conflict, and limited job opportunities persist in the region, people will continue trying to make the risky journey to Europe.