Spain's PM Sanchez Visits Gambia to Curb Migration

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on his second visit this year to West Africa aimed at curbing migration to the Canary Islands and to counter the Russian presence in the Sahel region visited Gambia following a visit to Mauritania.

The West African migration route has seen a 154% surge this year, with 21,620 people crossing to the Canary Islands in the first seven months, according to data from the European Union border agency Frontex.

The first wooden boat carrying migrants to the Canary Islands arrived 30 years ago on August 28, 1994 with two migrants aboard.

The recent wave has stretched resources on the Spanish archipelago, with local authorities saying they may have to house migrants in military camps or even in tents ahead of an expected rise in arrivals due to calmer conditions in the Atlantic Ocean.

Spanish authorities fear that as many as 150,000 more migrants from Africa may be set to make the perilous crossing in the coming months.

According to Frontex data, nearly half of the new arrivals are Malians, forced out of their country by a conflict and economic crisis in which the Russian mercenary group Wagner is involved.

Sanchez is focusing on strengthening relations with Mauritania, Senegal which he will visit, and Gambia, the main departure points for migrant boats. The first two share land borders with Mali.

Spanish police have long operated in West Africa to strengthen border control as part of Madrid's strategy to give financial and security aid to departure points for migrant boats.

During this trip, Spain signed circular migration agreements with Gambia and Mauritania - it already has one with Senegal - allowing workers from these countries to come to Spain for short periods to meet labor needs and then return to their countries of origin.