Senegal's naval forces seize vessels transporting 600 potential migrants

The Senegalese navy has announced that it has stopped four boats in the span of three days, carrying over 600 people. These individuals were attempting to make the dangerous journey to Spain's Canary Islands, which serve as a gateway to Europe. Social media footage showed migrants jumping off a boat that had run aground in Senegal's coastal city of St Louis. Witnesses reported that strong winds had forced them back and they were trying to evade arrest by the navy, which has increased its patrols. The government has recently presented a 10-year plan to address irregular migration, which includes strengthening border control. According to the UN's International Organization for Migration (IOM), at least 140 migrants have died or gone missing since early 2023 while attempting to cross the Atlantic. In August alone, over 2,690 people successfully reached the Canary Islands from Senegal and Morocco, double the number from the same month last year. Despite the dangers, some individuals still choose to undertake this perilous journey due to the difficult economic situation in Senegal. The Senegalese navy has shared photos and information about those intercepted on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter).