Senegalese President Macky Sall has instructed the implementation of emergency measures to curb the increasing flow of migrants departing the West African country in small boats bound for Europe.
Sall directed the government to implement “urgent security, economic, financial, and social measures to counteract migrant departures,” according to a statement released late on Wednesday following a cabinet meeting.
While providing no specifics on the measures to be taken, the statement emphasized that they must involve the ministers of interior, armed forces, youth, and fisheries.
It also made reference to a 10-year plan, presented by Senegal at the end of July, aimed at addressing irregular migration through a combination of domestic and external funding.
Senegal is grappling with the challenge of curbing the influx of individuals attempting to reach the Canaries, a Spanish archipelago and a gateway to Europe, by sea—frequently in long wooden fishing vessels known as pirogues.
Senegalese media frequently feature reports on the arrival, interception, or sea rescues of pirogues several times a week.
The strategy, previously disclosed, was revealed in the wake of multiple tragedies, with irregular migration emerging as a prominent campaign issue leading up to next year’s presidential election.
According to data from Spain’s interior ministry, between January 1 and October 31, a total of 30,705 migrants reached the Canaries, surpassing more than double the number of arrivals during the same period last year.
Two-thirds of the migrants originate from sub-Saharan Africa, as reported by the European Union border agency Frontex.
Senegalese and Moroccans constitute the largest groups among the new arrivals, according to reports from the agency and various Spanish NGOs.
