Guinea-Bissau’s coastguard intercepted 55 West African migrants on Sunday as they attempted to reach Spain via the dangerous Atlantic route, according to the interior ministry.
Guinea-Bissau’s coastline has long been a departure point for African migrants aiming for the Spanish Canary Islands.
Tragically, thousands have died on this journey in overcrowded and often unsuitable boats in recent years.
Jose Becuque, the coastguard patrol leader, stated that the intercepted group comprised 41 men, including a young boy around 10, and 14 women, all originating from Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, and Guinea.
They were apprehended near an island in the Cacheu region, located in western Guinea-Bissau near the Senegalese border.
Becuque indicated that efforts would be made to find and identify the organizers of this perilous trip.
Migrants heading to Europe often pass through the Bijagos or Bissagos archipelago, which includes about 88 islands along the Atlantic coast, many of which are uninhabited.
Spanish NGO Caminando Fronteras reported that nearly 10,500 migrants died or disappeared at sea in 2024.
While arrivals in the Canary Islands have decreased after a record year in 2024, when 46,843 migrants arrived, Spain’s interior ministry reported that 10,882 migrants reached the islands from January to mid-May, a 34 percent decrease compared to the previous year.
