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Euronews
11-07-2025
- Euronews
Senegal's navy intercepts 201 migrants on Atlantic route to Europe
The Senegalese navy intercepted 201 West African migrants, authorities said on Wednesday, as the Atlantic Ocean crossing continues to be the most popular and deadliest migration route from Africa to Europe. The operation was carried out by Senegalese marines based in Foundiougne, in the Fatick region of western Senegal, the army said in a statement. Sixty-nine people were stopped on land, the statement said, while 132 others were intercepted aboard a small wooden boat in the Saloum delta on Tuesday evening. While migration to Europe has been steadily falling, the Atlantic Ocean crossing from West Africa to Spain's Canary Islands has re-emerged since 2020. Nearly 47,000 people disembarked in the Canaries in 2024, an increase from the nearly 40,000 in 2023, according to Spanish Interior Ministry figures. The crossing is one of the deadliest in the world. While there is no accurate death toll because of the lack of information on departures from West Africa, the Spanish migrant rights group Walking Borders estimates the victims are in the thousands this year alone. Those arrested on Wednesday are of various West African nationalities, including several women and children, according to the army's public relations office, DIRPA. The Saloum delta is an increasingly popular departure point for migrants. While most migrants leaving Senegal are young men, aid workers in the Canary Islands say they are increasingly seeing women and children risk their lives as well. Last year, the EU signed a €210 million deal with Mauritania to stop smugglers from launching boats for Spain. But to date the deal has had little effect on migrant arrivals. In Senegal, winter sees an increase in attempted journeys as the seasonal change lowers the intensity of waves, but migrants choose to take the risk throughout the year. Migrant vessels that get lost or run into problems often vanish in the Atlantic, with some drifting across the ocean for months until they are found in the Caribbean or Latin America carrying only human remains. Until recently, the route was mostly used by migrants from West African nations fleeing poverty or violence. But since last year, migrants from countries further afield like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Yemen, Syria and Afghanistan have increasingly embarked on the fishing boats used to reach the European archipelago.
Winnipeg Free Press
10-07-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
Senegalese navy has intercepted 201 migrants from West Africa
DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — The Senegalese navy intercepted 201 West African migrants in the western part of the country, authorities said Wednesday, as the Atlantic Ocean crossing continues to be the most popular — and deadliest — migration route from Africa to Europe. The operation was carried out by Senegalese marines based in Foundiougne, in the Fatick region in western Senegal, the army said in a statement Wednesday. Sixty-nine people were stopped on land, the statement said, while 132 others were intercepted aboard a small wooden boat, or pirogue, in the Saloum delta on Tuesday evening. While migration to Europe has been falling steadily, the Atlantic Ocean crossing from West Africa to Spain's Canary Islands has reemerged since 2020. Nearly 47,000 people disembarked in the Canaries in 2024, an increase from the nearly 40,000 in 2023, according to Spanish Interior Ministry figures. The crossing is one of the deadliest in the world. While there is no accurate death toll because of the lack of information on departures from West Africa, the Spanish migrant rights group Walking Borders estimates the victims are in the thousands this year alone. Those arrested on Wednesday are of various West African nationalities, including several women and children, according to DIRPA. The Saloum delta is increasingly a frequent departure point for illegal migrants. While most migrants leaving Senegal are young men, aid workers in the Canary Islands say they are increasingly seeing women and children risk their lives as well. Last year, the EU signed a 210 million euro deal with Mauritania to stop smugglers from launching boats for Spain. But the deal has had little effect on migrant arrivals for now. In Senegal, winter sees an increase in attempted journeys as the seasonal change lowers the intensity of waves but migrants choose to take the risk throughout the year. Migrant vessels that get lost or run into problems often vanish in the Atlantic, with some drifting across the ocean for months until they are found in the Caribbean and Latin America carrying only human remains. Until recently, the route was mostly used by migrants from West African nations fleeing poverty or violence. But since last year, migrants from far-flung countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Yemen, Syria and Afghanistan have increasingly embarked on the fishing boats used to reach the European archipelago.
Associated Press
10-07-2025
- Associated Press
Senegalese navy has intercepted 201 migrants from West Africa
DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — The Senegalese navy intercepted 201 West African migrants in the western part of the country, authorities said Wednesday, as the Atlantic Ocean crossing continues to be the most popular — and deadliest — migration route from Africa to Europe. The operation was carried out by Senegalese marines based in Foundiougne, in the Fatick region in western Senegal, the army said in a statement Wednesday. Sixty-nine people were stopped on land, the statement said, while 132 others were intercepted aboard a small wooden boat, or pirogue, in the Saloum delta on Tuesday evening. While migration to Europe has been falling steadily, the Atlantic Ocean crossing from West Africa to Spain's Canary Islands has reemerged since 2020. Nearly 47,000 people disembarked in the Canaries in 2024, an increase from the nearly 40,000 in 2023, according to Spanish Interior Ministry figures. The crossing is one of the deadliest in the world. While there is no accurate death toll because of the lack of information on departures from West Africa, the Spanish migrant rights group Walking Borders estimates the victims are in the thousands this year alone. Those arrested on Wednesday are of various West African nationalities, including several women and children, according to DIRPA. The Saloum delta is increasingly a frequent departure point for illegal migrants. While most migrants leaving Senegal are young men, aid workers in the Canary Islands say they are increasingly seeing women and children risk their lives as well. Last year, the EU signed a 210 million euro deal with Mauritania to stop smugglers from launching boats for Spain. But the deal has had little effect on migrant arrivals for now. In Senegal, winter sees an increase in attempted journeys as the seasonal change lowers the intensity of waves but migrants choose to take the risk throughout the year. Migrant vessels that get lost or run into problems often vanish in the Atlantic, with some drifting across the ocean for months until they are found in the Caribbean and Latin America carrying only human remains. Until recently, the route was mostly used by migrants from West African nations fleeing poverty or violence. But since last year, migrants from far-flung countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Yemen, Syria and Afghanistan have increasingly embarked on the fishing boats used to reach the European archipelago.
TimesLIVE
02-06-2025
- General
- TimesLIVE
Seven African migrant women and children died metres from shore, buried in Canary Islands
Seven African migrant women and children who died when their boat capsized metres from the shore in Spain's Canary Islands were buried on Friday at the La Restringa harbour where they had hoped to find safety. Two five-year-old girls and a 16-year-old were among the dead, emergency services said. The migrant boat capsized as rescuers were escorting it to port at La Restringa on the El Hierro island on Wednesday, the services said. 'I heard the screams and didn't hesitate. Like any citizen faced with an emergency or an accident, I got in my car, rushed to where the boat was, and helped however I could,' Javier Iglesias, a La Restringa resident, said at the funeral of the seven, which was also attended by surviving migrants. 'What moves you and leaves an impression is when you see the faces, the expressions of the people who didn't reach their dream five metres from the shore.' The number of migrants reaching the Canary Islands from West Africa hit an all-time high in 2024, but the number of arrivals has fallen this year, interior ministry data shows. In the first five months of 2024, 4,808 people died on the perilous Atlantic voyage to the Canaries after leaving Africa, according to migrant rights group Walking Borders.
AsiaOne
01-06-2025
- General
- AsiaOne
7 migrant women and children died metres from shore in Canary Islands, World News
MADRID — Seven migrant women and children who died when their boat capsized just metres from shore in Spain's Canary Islands were buried on Friday (May 30) at the La Restringa harbour where they had hoped to find safety. Two five-year-old girls and a 16-year-old were among the dead, emergency services said. The migrant boat capsized as rescuers were escorting it to port at La Restringa on the El Hierro island on Wednesday, the services said. "I heard the screams and didn't hesitate. Like any citizen faced with an emergency or an accident, I got in my car, rushed to where the boat was, and helped however I could," Javier Iglesias, a La Restringa resident, said at the funeral of the seven, which was also attended by surviving migrants. "What really moves you and leaves an impression is when you see the faces, the expressions of those people who didn't reach their dream, just five metres from the shore." The number of migrants reaching the Canary Islands from West Africa hit an all-time high in 2024, but the number of arrivals has fallen this year, Interior Ministry data shows. In the first five months of 2024, 4,808 people died on the perilous Atlantic voyage to the Canaries after leaving Africa, according to migrant rights group Walking Borders. ALSO READ: 2 children die in Mediterranean shipwreck, 17 rescued, NGO says
