The announcement of renewed cooperation came as Sanchez began a three-day tour of West Africa to boost bilateral relations with Mauritania, Gambia and Senegal and discuss ways to stem migrant crossings to the Canary Islands.

At least 22,000 people have reached the archipelago from the countries on West Africa’s coast since January, more than double the number during the same period last year, according to Spain’s interior ministry. Authorities say they expect the number to increase at an even faster pace in the coming months.

Part of the raft of agreements reached between the Mauritanian and Spanish leaders focuses on stopping the boats from leaving and clamping down on people smuggling. "We must fight against the mafias that trade in human beings and play with human lives," Mauritania’s news agency quoted Sanchez as saying.

Also read: 89 migrants confirmed dead after boat capsizes off Mauritania

But, speaking alongside Ghazouani in the Mauritanian capital Nouakchott on Tuesday, Sanchez also announced plans to expand Spain’s so-called circular migration program to Mauritanians, allowing them to come to the EU country for short periods to work before returning home. 

According to a document seen by the AFP news agency, a memorandum of understanding was signed to implement "a pilot project for the selection of Mauritanian workers in their country of origin" to work in Spain.

Spain already has circular migration agreements with Morocco, Senegal, Colombia, Honduras, Ecuador, Argentina and Uruguay. In addition to Mauritania, Gambia was expected to be added to the list during Sanchez's visit there on Wednesday.

Also read: EU launches migration partnership with Mauritania

Need for legal migration

Spain’s economy is smaller than that of Italy, France or Germany. But like those countries, it has an aging population and is facing labor shortages in many sectors. Spanish government sources estimate that Spain will need 200,000 to 250,000 migrant workers by 2050, according to the news agency EFE.

Emphasizing the need for migrant workers to fill the gaps in Spain’s labor market and to boost the public pension system, Sanchez said the creation and expansion of legal migration routes are fundamental for "wealth, development and prosperity."

"Despite the rhetoric that is growing in Europe, migration is not a problem," he said.

"It is a need that involves certain problems, and for this we must push formulas that allow us to manage the phenomenon of migration in a humane, safe and orderly way, to benefit our respective societies."

Spanish also took risks for better lives, PM says

This is Sanchez’s second visit this year to Mauritania, the most stable country in the Sahel region and the departure point for most undocumented migrants heading for the Canaries.

Also read: Mauritania – a new irregular migration gateway to Europe?

Among those risking the dangerous journey to the archipelago are thousands of Malian refugees escaping from violence and instability, as well as young people from Senegal and other West African countries who are looking for job opportunities abroad.

The last year has seen an increasing number of teenagers and children traveling alone to the Canaries, leading to complaints from the local government that it is unable to manage their care.

Speaking at the start of his visit, Sanchez acknowledged the reasons driving so many young people to make the Atlantic crossing.

"Until not long ago Spain was also a country of migrants ... they aspired to better lives, much like those who take great risks and take on this dangerous adventure," he said.

Before leaving the country, the prime minister pledged half a million euros to a defense and security training initiative in Mauritania and the launching of a Cervantes Institute to promote the Spanish language and culture, AP reported.

Another high-level meeting is to be held in Mauritania in early 2025.

Sanchez continued his visit in Gambia on Wednesday. Posting on X, he thanked the Gambian authorities for their cooperation on migration which he said had been "essential to avoid the loss of human lives and to achieve management of the migration challenge that is safe, orderly and regular."

With AP, AFP, EFE

Also read: Canary Islands preparing to care for up to 16,000 migrant minors