Mauritania's coast guard intercepted a boat carrying 161 migrants, including 17 children, who were attempting to reach Europe, the country's navy announced Thursday. The vessel was found off the coast near the fishing village of Amhijrat, north of the capital, Nouakchott.
The migrants aboard the boat originated from Senegal, Guinea, and Gambia. They had departed from Banjul, the capital of Gambia, eight days prior with the aim of reaching Spain’s Canary Islands. According to an immigration official, the migrants were suffering from a lack of water and food, and the boat's engine was severely worn out, leading to a halt at sea.
Officials stated that the 161 individuals are expected to be transferred to a migrant reception center in Nouakchott. Mauritania's coastal waters have become a significant transit route for sub-Saharan Africans seeking passage to Europe amid scarce economic opportunities in their home countries.
This incident occurs as the route to the Canary Islands is recognized as one of the world's deadliest. Last month, the United Nations refugee agency reported that nearly 150 people died or went missing from boats off Mauritania while attempting the journey. Data from the International Organization for Migration indicates that at least 1,200 migrants perished along the West Africa-Atlantic route to the Canary Islands in 2025.