Amid migration spike, Spain and EU promise more investments in Mauritania

By Alyssa McMurtry

OVIEDO, Spain (AA) - Amid a surge in irregular migration from Mauritania to Spain’s Canary Islands, the leaders of Spain and the European Commission traveled to the African nation on Thursday, announcing new investments.

Ursula von der Leyen joined Pedro Sanchez for the trip to meet President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani and discuss ways of boosting security in the Sahel and curbing migratory flows.

According to the Spanish government, 83% of irregular migrant ships that reached the Canary Islands in January came from Mauritania.

Last month, around 7,720 people successfully made the dangerous voyage, up more than 1,000% from January 2023, according to the Interior Ministry.

On Thursday, von der Leyen announced that the EU would give the West African nation €210 million ($226 million) to manage refugee flows, for humanitarian aid and to invest in employment for young people.

She also said the EU will be investing in “Mauritania’s immense potential for green hydrogen,” saying the country has some of the best conditions for solar and wind energy in the world.

At a joint press conference, she said that the European Investment Bank will finance infrastructure projects such as highways, electricity lines and submarine communications cable to help the country meet its potential with renewable energy.

Spain’s Sanchez also announced a slew of new investments, including €60 million for development over the next four years, up to €50 million in renewable energy cooperation or finance and financial instruments of up to €200 million to promote Spanish companies investing in Mauritania.

“Prosperity in Mauritania is the best investment towards stability and security in the broader region,” said Sanchez, announcing that the two countries will also sign a new bilateral framework agreement.

While no specific deal on migration was announced publicly, Mauritanian President Ould Ghazouani highlighted his nation’s “commitment” to controlling irregular migration. But he added that Mauritania hosts hundreds of thousands of refugees from Mali and other countries, which comes at a huge cost in terms of humanitarian aid, border control and security.

“The joint visit will open a new era of cooperation,” he said. “This visit, for us, has been the opportunity to discuss the quotations that interest both parties.”

At the joint press conference, the Mauritanian leader also emphasized the need for a cease-fire and two-state solution to end the conflict in Gaza.