Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez recently visited Gambia amid a tour of three West African countries with the goal of enhancing cooperation to tackle irregular migration to Spain’s Canary Islands. During his visit, Sánchez held discussions with Gambia’s President Adama Barrow and announced plans for joint efforts on security and opportunities for legal migration without providing specific details on the agreements reached. Sánchez expressed Spain’s commitment to strengthen its ties with Africa during his visit to the capital, Banjul.
This marks the first time a Spanish prime minister has visited Gambia, a country with 2.7 million inhabitants. Sánchez initiated his tour by visiting Mauritania, where he emphasized the need to reinforce collaboration between the security forces of both nations to combat human trafficking. His itinerary includes meetings with leaders in Senegal, scheduled for the following day.
The coastal nations of Mauritania, Senegal, and Gambia have become key starting points for migrants attempting to reach the Canary Islands, which serve as a transit point for individuals seeking to reach Europe. The number of irregular arrivals in the Canary Islands has more than doubled this year, with over 22,000 people arriving since January, according to Spain’s Interior Ministry.
During his visit to Gambia, Sánchez also met with Spanish law enforcement officers deployed to assist the country with border enforcement. Expressing gratitude for Spain’s support in managing irregular migration, Barrow, the President of Gambia, commended the “fantastic” cooperation provided by the Spanish officers.
Migrants arriving in the Canary Islands include Malian refugees escaping unrest in their country, as well as young individuals from Senegal, Mauritania, and other West African nations in search of better economic opportunities abroad. The increasing number of unaccompanied teenagers and children reaching the Canary Islands has strained the local government’s resources for their care.
Highlighting the perilous journeys taken by migrants, over 4,000 Gambians reached Europe via the treacherous Atlantic route last year, as reported by the U.N.’s migration agency. In a tragic incident last month, a boat carrying 300 migrants, primarily from Gambia and Senegal, capsized off Mauritania, resulting in the loss of more than a dozen lives and leaving at least 150 individuals missing.
