The Senegalese navy intercepted 201 migrants this week in a sweeping operation across the country’s western coastal region.
According to the army, 69 people were stopped on land, while 132 were found aboard a wooden pirogue navigating the treacherous Saloum delta waters.
The interception highlights the Atlantic Ocean route’s resurgence as a primary — and perilous — path for migrants seeking entry to Europe.
In 2024, nearly 47,000 migrants reached Spain’s Canary Islands, marking a sharp rise from last year’s 40,000, Spanish authorities report. Though exact figures remain elusive, rights group Walking Borders estimates thousands have died attempting the crossing this year alone.
Authorities said those intercepted include men, women, and children from several West African nations, reflecting a shifting demographic of migrants. Once dominated by young male travellers, the route now increasingly sees families braving the ocean’s perils for a chance at Europe.
The Saloum delta has become a growing departure hub, with its intricate waterways offering a discreet launch point for smugglers.
Despite a €210 million EU agreement with Mauritania last year to curb departures, migrant flows have remained largely unchanged. Senegal’s winter brings calmer seas, prompting more attempts — though crossings occur year-round, regardless of seasonal risks.
Many vessels vanish without trace, some only discovered months later in distant parts of the Atlantic, their decks filled with remains. Originally used by West Africans fleeing poverty and conflict, the route now attracts migrants from Asia and the Middle East as well.
Authorities warn that the expanding use of fishing boats for transcontinental migration increases the already devastating human toll. With little sign of decline, the Atlantic route continues to claim lives, even as governments struggle to stem the tide.
