The Mauritanian coast guard said that it saved 110 migrants after the engine of their rickety boat broke down. Among those rescued were 12 women and three children. The boat had reportedly set off from The Gambia, presumably heading for Spain's Canary Islands.
The rescue at sea unfolded in the early hours of June 2, reportedly lasting from 1:00 am to 9:00 am, according to officials in Mauritania, reported by AFP.
"The rescue operation took place about eight nautical miles (15 kilometers) from the shore in difficult weather conditions," the coast guard statement said, adding that the migrant boat had apparently "suffered a breakdown on the high seas."
It has been ascertained that the boat had set off from the Gambian capital Banjul, located almost 600 kilometers further south.
Among those rescued were 80 Malians, 12 Senegalese, 10 Gambians, four Mauritanians, three Ivorians and a Nigerian.
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Canary Islands: Crossing attempts continue despite new policies
Each year, thousands of people continue to leave on unseaworthy boats and overcrowded, dilapidated vessels off the West African coast in hopes of reaching the European Union.
In nearly all instances, they aim to reach the archipelago of the Canary Islands in the Atlantic, which are part of Spain.
In recent years, Spain has signed numerous bilateral agreements with governments in West Africa — like Mauritania — to help intercept migrants trying to reach its soil, resulting in a significant drop in successful arrivals.
However, smugglers and traffickers continue to try to move thousands of people from the African coast to Europe each year.
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Thousands of graves at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean
The majority of the people on these crossings are young people from West Africa, who see little to no economic opportunities for the future; many countries in the region have high levels of youth unemployment, as well as some of the youngest average populations on earth.
However, thousands of people have drowned over the years while attempting to escape poverty and strife on the African continent. According to numbers provided by the IOM, over 1,000 were confirmed to have died en route from West Africa to the Canaries in 2025 alone.
The real number of deaths on this route is expected to be considerably higher, as many migrant departures and shipwrecks are never recorded.
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with AFP