Since the beginning of March, Mauritania has initiated mass expulsion operations and arrests, primarily targeting migrants of various nationalities, including Senegalese. Many of the expelled migrants have decried the treatment received, claiming human rights violation. Mauritania, located on African migration routes, serves as a departure point for many migrants seeking to reach Europe. The exact number of expelled Senegalese remains unknown. According to Mauritanian authorities, their actions are meant to control the departure of migrants under precarious conditions.

Mauritania, with a population of approximately 4.5 million, is facing an influx of about 1.2 million migrants, mostly from West Africa and Asia. Houssein Ould Meddou, the Mauritanian government spokesperson, emphasised the crucial role being played by Nouakchott in the fight against illegal immigration. He announced that, the previous week alone, four migrant trafficking networks were dismantled, involving members from five different nationalities. According to him, these operations also aim to protect local populations from the dangers associated with illegal migration, emphasising that these networks do jeopardise the lives of migrants by offering them dangerous vessels to transport them to Europe.

Given the gravity of the situation, Senegal’s Minister for African Integration and Foreign Affairs, Yacine Fall, has gone on a visit to Mauritania. This visit follows the outrage expressed by Dakar regarding the conditions under which its nationals have been expelled. During her visit, Minister Yacine Fall discussed with her Mauritanian counterpart, ways to facilitate the regularisation of Senegalese nationals in an irregular situation. A new regulatory framework for obtaining residence permits is expected to be proposed in the coming weeks. She also emphasised the importance for Senegalese citizens to respect Mauritania’s laws.

Boughourbal Moulaye Abasse, Honorary Consul of Senegal in Nouadhibou, explained in an interview with Le Quotidien newspaper the reasons behind Mauritania’s policy and advocated for stronger intergovernmental cooperation to find sustainable solutions to the migration crisis. He also highlighted the rise in the crime rate and the dangers faced by migrants striving to make it to Europe, often by sea.