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Dozens of West African migrants have been rescued off the coast of Mauritania after their vessel suffered engine failure and drifted at sea for two days, Mauritanian and Guinean officials confirmed on Sunday.
The boat, which had departed the Guinean port city of Kamsar on July 15, was carrying at least 75 people, according to Mauritania’s Ministry of Fisheries. However, Guinean security sources told AFP the number of passengers could be more than 100, including individuals from Guinea, Senegal, and The Gambia.
“The boat’s engine broke down in the open sea and was on the verge of sinking. The passengers were carried by the current for two days before they were able to issue a distress call,” the Mauritanian ministry said in a statement.
A nearby ship responded to the call and rescued the passengers before handing them over to Mauritania’s coastguard. The migrants remained in Mauritania as of Sunday, according to a local security source.
Thousands of migrants from West Africa attempt the dangerous Atlantic route each year in hopes of reaching Europe. Many aim for Spain’s Canary Islands, despite the perilous conditions and the high number of fatalities associated with the journey.
According to the Spanish aid organisation Caminando Fronteras, nearly 10,500 people have died at sea trying to reach Spain in 2024 alone. Although arrivals to the Canary Islands remain significant, official figures indicate a decrease this year, with around 46,800 African migrants landing on the islands so far.
