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Rabat – The Royal Armed Forces (FAR) intercepted a stranded boat carrying 54 individuals attempting irregular migration on Wednesday. The boat was found approximately 186 kilometers south of Dakhla.
According to a statement from the General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces, the migrants in the boat were identified as sub-Saharan and Asian.
These migrants started their journey from the Mauritanian coast with the intention of reaching the Canary Islands.
The FAR personnel, responsible for coastal surveillance, spotted the boat and intervened to provide assistance.
Upon rescue, the migrants received necessary medical attention before being handed over to the Royal Gendarmerie for standard administrative procedures.
Despite significant efforts by Moroccan agencies to curb migration to Europe, the Canary Islands route has witnessed a staggering increase in irregular migrant arrivals.
In January alone, approximately 6,600 individuals attempted the perilous journey, marking a tenfold rise compared to last year’s figures. The surge comes amid a general decline in migration attempts on Europe’s other borders.
According to reports, Morocco, Algeria, and surprisingly, Bangladesh have emerged as the primary origins of migrants attempting to cross into Europe via the Western Mediterranean.
Although migration attempts in this region have decreased by 66% compared to the previous month, the Western African migration route now accounts for nearly half of all irregular migration into the continent.
The escalating unrest, economic stagnation, and political upheaval in much of the Sahel region have exacerbated the situation, prompting many desperate individuals to seek entry into Europe via the Spanish archipelago.
Frontex, the European border agency, has highlighted the role of “criminal groups” in Mauritania, who exploit the increased demand from sub-Saharan migrants transiting their country en route to the Canary Islands.
Read Also: Migrant Crossings to Canary Islands Increase Tenfold
