Full Breakdown
Migrants Stuck in Mauritania Amid EU Border Pact Crackdown
12/18/2025, 9:35:15 PM
Overview of the Situation
Since signing a migration control pact with the European Union in early 2024, Mauritania has intensified its crackdown on irregular migration, significantly impacting migrants like Moktar Diallo from Mali. Diallo, who left Mali in 2015 with aspirations of reaching Europe, now finds himself working long hours in Nouakchott, the capital of Mauritania, while trying to evade increased police activity aimed at curbing boat departures to Spain's Canary Islands. Reports indicate that Mauritanian security forces have intercepted approximately 13,500 boats since the start of 2024, leading to a 59% decrease in arrivals to the Canary Islands compared to the previous year.
Impact of the EU Pact
The EU-Mauritania pact, which includes a financial contribution of 210 million euros ($247 million) for managing migration and humanitarian aid, has been criticized for bolstering the Mauritanian security forces' crackdown on migrants. Human Rights Watch has documented over 70 cases of human rights violations, including beatings and torture, attributed to these forces. The EU claims that safeguarding the rights of migrants is a priority in its programs, although critics argue that the funding effectively enables rights abuses.
Migrant Experiences and Challenges
Moktar Diallo works under harsh conditions, earning between $5 and $7 a day while dreaming of a boat journey that costs around $2,700. He shares a hut with other migrants and is often unable to visit his family due to police patrols. Another migrant, Moussa Kolongo, an auto-rickshaw driver, has seen his income plummet as police crackdowns have made it difficult for him to work. Both men express a sense of entrapment, unable to afford the journey to Europe or return home to Mali, where conflict and economic instability prevail.
Criticism of the Crackdown
Critics, including Lauren Seibert from Human Rights Watch, argue that the EU's approach to migration management in Mauritania is flawed. They contend that the strategy of outsourcing border control to transit countries like Mauritania, Tunisia, and Egypt leads to human rights violations. The European Commission maintains that it monitors its programs to ensure the protection of migrants, but the effectiveness of these measures is questioned by various human rights advocates.
Emerging Routes and Future Implications
As the crackdown continues, experts predict that new, potentially more dangerous migration routes will emerge. Reports indicate that boats are now departing from countries like The Gambia and Guinea, which are further south than Mauritania. In the last six months, only seven boats reached the Canary Islands from Mauritania, while 21 boats arrived from The Gambia and Guinea, highlighting a shift in migration patterns.
Conclusion
The situation for migrants in Mauritania has become increasingly precarious following the EU's border management pact. While the intention may be to control irregular migration, the consequences for individuals like Moktar Diallo and Moussa Kolongo reveal a complex interplay of human rights concerns and the harsh realities of migration in West Africa.
