Mauritania's coast guard rescued 260 irregular migrants, including 17 children, from two boats off the capital Nouakchott early on Sunday, September 27. The Mauritanian Ministry of Fisheries and Maritime Economy announced the operation in a Facebook post published later the same day.

The two vessels had departed from Banjul, the capital of The Gambia, roughly 500 kilometers south of Nouakchott. They spent seven days at sea before Mauritanian coast guard units spotted them.

News agency AFP reported that the migrants on board were in a state of shock after running out of food, while also contending with fuel and navigation problems.

Who was on board the boats?

The ministry's statement set out the nationalities of the rescued group:

• 132 Senegalese nationals
• 120 Gambians
• 4 Guineans
• 2 Nigerians
• 2 Malians

Among the 260 people rescued were 17 children and 61 women.

Why is Mauritania intercepting more boats?

The rescue follows a growing pattern of Mauritanian operations in the Atlantic. In early July, the Mauritanian coast guard saved 216 migrants off its coast. In recent days and weeks, Mauritanian and Senegalese authorities have intercepted more than a thousand migrants trying to reach Spain's Canary Islands.

Also in early July, at least 144 people were reported dead or missing off Mauritania after two boats bound for the Canary Islands ran into difficulty in the Atlantic, according to UNHCR.

Mauritania's coast guard now plays an increasingly important part in intercepting migrants before they reach European soil. In 2024, the European Union signed a partnership agreement with the West African country, pledging 200 million euros in funds to stop irregular migration. Spain has often spearheaded bilateral and wider EU negotiations with Mauritania and other departure countries such as Senegal and Morocco, since most people leaving these countries head toward Spanish territories.

What effect have the patrols had on arrivals?

Rights groups say the increase in sea patrols and interceptions has contributed to a drop in arrivals in the Canary Islands that began last year.

According to the Spanish Ministry of the Interior, 2025 saw a 40 percent drop in the number of migrants who entered Spanish territory irregularly compared with the same period the previous year.

Before that, the archipelago had witnessed a large increase in irregular migration from West Africa over roughly a decade, with experts calling this the deadliest migration route in the world.

How dangerous is the Atlantic crossing?

Driven by poverty and a lack of opportunities at home, thousands of mostly young migrants attempt the journey in precarious, overcrowded wooden fishing boats to reach the Canary Islands, seen as a gateway to the European Union. Many turn to clandestine routes because strict European visa policies and enhanced border surveillance keep legal channels out of reach.

As patrols intensify, people appear willing to undertake longer and riskier journeys. Some boats now set out from as far south as Guinea, more than 2,400 kilometers from the islands.

The death toll on the route remains severe. In 2025 alone, more than 1,176 people are known to have died or gone missing on this route, according to the IOM. The Spanish charity Caminando Fronteras estimates at least 1,482 people died en route to the Canaries in 2025. The charity says the fatality tally for 2026 has already surpassed 1,300.

Most of those embarking are young, with a high proportion of accompanied minors. Caminando Fronteras recently highlighted the case of Kissima Keita, a 25-year-old from Mali whose family lost contact with him in April, when he was thought to be in Senegal. His family, the charity states, "continue looking for him."