The Moroccan navy successfully rescued 141 African migrants on Sunday, February 18th. The migrants, including three women and two children, were found aboard a distressed boat sailing from Mauritania towards the Canary Islands.
The group departed the Mauritanian coast on February 10th and were struggling at sea before being located and assisted by the Moroccan authorities. This rescue comes amidst a concerning surge in migration attempts across the Atlantic.
Data from the Spanish Interior Ministry reveals a stark seven-fold increase in the number of migrants reaching Spain’s Canary Islands on rickety boats from West Africa compared to the same period in 2023. Mauritania has emerged as a key departure point for these journeys, with Spanish officials reporting that eight out of ten dinghies arriving in the archipelago in January originated from the West African nation.
This recent rescue adds to the already significant efforts undertaken by the Moroccan navy in 2023. Official figures indicate that they saved a total of 16,818 people at sea throughout the past year, representing a 35% increase compared to 2022.
The rising number of migrants attempting perilous journeys across the Atlantic highlights the ongoing challenges and complexities associated with irregular migration in the region.
