Spanish PM expected in Nouakchott, first leg of regional tour

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is expected in Mauritania this Tuesday as part of a regional tour that also includes Dakar and Banjul.

The primary focus of this tour, taking place August 27 to 29, is the fight against illegal immigration. The Spanish Canary Islands, which are geographically close to Mauritania, have seen a surge in illegal migrants from sub-Saharan Africa in recent months.

This three-day tour comes amid a significant geopolitical issue for the European Union (EU), with Spain at the forefront. Sanchez aims to engage with the leaders of the visited countries to discuss and enhance cooperation in addressing irregular immigration and improving management strategies, according to Spanish media reports.

Nouakchott and the EU have a contentious partnership agreement targeting illegal immigration, which includes the return of undocumented Mauritanians in exchange for 500 million euros in aid.

As of August 15, 2024, Spain had already received 31,155 illegal migrants from sub-Saharan Africa.