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Rabat – Moroccan security services have rescued 2,000 migrants from boats attempting to cross Moroccan waters to the Canary Islands within the past two months.
Spanish news agency EFE quoted data from Morocco’s Interior Ministry, who stressed that 85% of irregular migrants rescued were from sub-Saharan countries.
“The number of irregular migration attempts towards Europe has been reduced,” the data said, stressing that this decrease has been noticed predominantly in the Atlantic areas.
The rate of decrease reached 36% this year compared to 2022, the data added, noting that police have been increasing security operations – particularly in southern provinces.
Security services stressed that irregular migration networks have been using other methods– instead of only boats.
Migrant networks use numerous vessels from countries like Mauritania and Senegal to transit through waters in their attempt to reach the Spanish territory.
In the past week only, Moroccan security services rescued 235 people from Atlantic waters.
Data indicated that of the 2,000 people rescued in the past two months in southern provinces, only 300 were Moroccans.
Spain has long touted cooperation with Morocco in the management of migration.
Earlier this month, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez stressed the importance of Morocco as a strategic ally in many sectors- including migration management.
“Relations with Morocco are very important and fundamental especially in the areas of trade and economy since practically all of Spain’s investments on the African continent are concentrated in Morocco,” he said, confirming Morocco’s position as the gateway to Africa.
Sanchez recalled that Morocco has become a “host country” for many irregular migrants, saying “Often, when we think about immigration, we are not aware that Morocco also suffers from this irregular migration that comes from a very unstable region like the Sahel, and that many young people front these countries are looking for a better future not only in Europe, but also in African countries like Morocco.”
