Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is on a diplomatic mission in West Africa with a focus on addressing irregular migration and promoting legal migration routes to Europe. His three-day tour across Mauritania, Gambia, and Senegal seeks to strengthen ties with these nations and curb the increasing flow of unauthorized migrants attempting dangerous journeys to the Canary Islands.

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A New Approach to Migration: Legal Jobs to Curb Irregular Migration

During his visit to Mauritania, Sánchez proposed a bold initiative: the creation of 250,000 legal jobs for migrants. The goal is to provide an alternative to dangerous, unauthorized crossings by offering legitimate pathways to Spain. This approach includes a ‘circular migration’ scheme, where workers are hired for seasonal jobs in Spain and then return to their home countries. The initiative aims to combat human trafficking and reduce the number of people risking their lives to cross the Atlantic to reach Europe.

‘The goal is safe, orderly, and regular migration,’ Sánchez emphasized in Nouakchott, the capital of Mauritania. His proposal reflects a shift in Spain’s strategy toward migration—one that highlights collaboration with African nations to manage migration more humanely and effectively.

Record Increase in Migrants Taking the Atlantic Route

The push for a new migration framework comes as Spain deals with a sharp increase in the number of migrants taking the dangerous Atlantic route to the Canary Islands. According to Frontex, the European Union border agency, 21,620 migrants arrived on small boats in the first seven months of this year, marking a staggering 154% increase from the same period last year.

This increase is partly attributed to dire conditions in countries like Mali, where a military regime is struggling against an Islamist insurgency. Nationals from Mali alone account for nearly half of the arrivals on the Canary Islands, highlighting the complex interplay between regional conflicts and migration.

Overfishing and Local Economies: Root Causes of Migration

Migration experts and local leaders in West Africa point to overfishing by EU-flagged boats as another driver of migration. The depletion of fish stocks is putting immense pressure on coastal communities, particularly in Senegal, where fishing is a vital source of income. This has forced many to risk the treacherous journey to Europe in search of better opportunities.

Meanwhile, Sánchez’s tour also includes a stop in Gambia—a country playing a significant role in migration dynamics despite its small size. Gambian criminal gangs have been implicated in organizing boat departures, further complicating the already dangerous migration scenario.

He participado en la presentación del Comité Bilateral de Cooperación Empresarial España-Mauritania, una iniciativa que sin duda jugará un papel central a la hora de incrementar las relaciones empresariales y económicas entre ambos países.

El comercio bilateral entre España y… pic.twitter.com/UTihF9gGgH

— Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) August 27, 2024

Boosting Cooperation: New Agreements and Security Ties

In Mauritania, Sánchez met with President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani to discuss enhanced cooperation on migration and security. They signed a memorandum to develop circular migration and a declaration to boost collaboration against organized crime. These agreements are expected to serve as a blueprint for similar deals with Gambia and Senegal, highlighting Spain’s commitment to building strong partnerships with its African counterparts.

Spain and Mauritania also agreed to elevate their diplomatic relationship by holding regular bilateral summits starting in 2025, aiming to deepen cooperation in sectors such as migration, health, and security.

Looking Ahead: A Call for Solidarity and Rational Migration Policies

Pedro Sánchez’s statements during the tour reflect a nuanced understanding of migration, not as a problem but as a complex issue requiring comprehensive solutions. ‘For Spain, migration is wealth, development, and prosperity,’ he reiterated, calling for a balanced approach that recognizes both the benefits and challenges of migration.

As Spain and its African partners move towards more collaborative migration management, the hope is that such efforts will bring stability and opportunity to regions deeply affected by irregular migration while promoting safer, more sustainable migration practices.

A Balanced Perspective: Sánchez’s African Tour

Pedro Sánchez’s African tour presents both opportunities and challenges for Spain and its partners in West Africa. On the positive side, the proposed creation of 250,000 legal jobs and the push for circular migration offer a humane alternative to irregular migration, potentially reducing human trafficking and promoting economic ties between Spain and African nations. Strengthening bilateral relations through new agreements on security and migration could also lead to more effective collaboration in managing migration flows and combating organized crime.

However, critics argue that the proposed initiatives may not address the root causes of migration, such as economic instability, conflicts, and environmental challenges in West Africa. There are concerns that the promise of legal jobs could create a ‘pull factor,’ encouraging more people to attempt dangerous crossings in the hope of securing employment in Europe. Moreover, without addressing issues like overfishing or supporting local economies more comprehensively, the benefits of this strategy could be limited. Sánchez’s efforts, while ambitious and necessary, face the test of implementation and the need for broader, more sustainable development strategies in the region.

The success of this diplomatic tour will ultimately depend on the follow-through of these agreements and the collaboration between Spain, Mauritania, Gambia, and Senegal to create meaningful change on both sides of the Mediterranean.

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Image: Shutterstock/Alexandros Michailidis