Mauritania: Migrants facing deportation attack police station in Gogui

Mauritania has experienced heightened tensions after a group of migrants facing deportation launched an attack on a Police station in Gogui, a border area between Mauritania and Mali.

Over the week-end, the migrants threw stones at the Police post before setting it on fire.

This violent incident is part of a broader crackdown on irregular migration, which has seen a sharp rise in arrests and expulsions in recent days.

Human rights groups have expressed concerns about the conditions under which these deportations are taking place. Activists on social media have condemned the harsh and inhumane treatment of migrants, focusing on overcrowded and unsafe conditions during their expulsion. A representative from the SOS Esclaves organization has called on Mauritania’s authorities to reconsider their approach, warning that the situation is risking serious violations of the migrants’ rights and dignity.

In response to the unrest, Mauritania’s government spokesperson, Houssein Ould Meddou, described the security measures as part of routine operations to address irregular immigration. While specific numbers were not disclosed, he stated that the detainees had entered the country without proper documentation and were being returned to their points of origin. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Malians Abroad has called for calm, and for peaceful dialogue between the two countries noting that Malian nationals continue to arrive at the Gogui border post.