Mauritanian Coastguard Rescues 161 Migrants Off West African Coast

The Mauritanian Coastguard rescued 161 migrants, including 17 children, from a distressed vessel off the coast near the fishing village of Amhijrat. The boat had departed from Banjul, The Gambia, eight days earlier with the intention of reaching Spain's Canary Islands.

Coastguard officials reported that the vessel suffered from engine problems, leaving passengers stranded and exhausted. Some reports indicated the migrants were in distress due to critical food and water shortages. All rescued individuals, hailing from Senegal, Guinea, and The Gambia, were transported to a reception center in Nouakchott.

This operation follows a similar rescue last Friday in which more than 300 migrants were saved from a drifting boat. These incidents highlight the dangers of the West Africa-Atlantic route, which the International Organization for Migration reported saw at least 1,200 deaths in 2025. Migrants from Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea, and Mali frequently attempt this perilous journey to escape poverty amid tightened European visa restrictions.