By Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez concluded his three-nation West African tour on Thursday in Senegal, meeting with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye to address the pressing issue of irregular migration to Spain’s Canary Islands. The visit marks a significant step in Spain’s efforts to manage migration flows through cooperation with key African partners.
Sánchez and Faye signed agreements aimed at promoting temporary work opportunities in Spain for Senegalese nationals and enhancing vocational training programs in the West African country. These measures are part of a broader strategy to create regulated migration pathways and discourage dangerous irregular crossings.
“Regulated migration benefits us all,” Sánchez emphasized during a press conference in Dakar. “It vaccinates us against those who make a business out of irregularity, like the mafias, and against those who use it as an excuse to spread hatred and xenophobia in our societies.” The Spanish leader’s comments highlighted the dual focus on combating people-smuggling networks and countering far-right rhetoric on immigration.
The agreements include an expansion of Spain’s circular migration program, which will offer temporary work permits of up to four years for Senegalese workers, allowing stays of up to nine months annually. In 2023, only 140 Senegalese participated in this program, compared to 17,200 workers from other countries, primarily Morocco and Latin America.
Sánchez’s West African tour, which began in Mauritania on Tuesday and included a stop in Gambia on Wednesday, comes amid a surge in migrant arrivals to the Canary Islands. Spanish Interior Ministry data shows that more than 22,000 people have reached the archipelago since January, more than double the number for the same period last year.
The Spanish Prime Minister also announced the launch of the “Alliance Africa Advances” initiative, which includes vocational training for approximately 500 young people in Senegal and a project with Spanish satellite operator Hispasat to expand internet access across the country.
However, some migrant rights organizations have expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of vocational training programs. Moustapha Diouf, who leads an organization promoting local job creation in Senegal, told The Associated Press, “The problem of migration is not a question of education or training, it’s a problem of job opportunities. Each year thousands of young Senegalese get diplomas, and yet a large number of them end up unemployed.”
Sánchez addressed the complex nature of migration management, describing himself as “a firm defender of regular migration” while also emphasizing the need to combat people-smuggling networks. He stressed the importance of returning individuals who have entered Spain illegally, stating that it sends “a clear, strong and discouraging message to the mafias and those who put themselves in their hands.”
The visit comes in the wake of recent tragic events, including a boat capsizing off Mauritania last month that resulted in more than a dozen deaths and at least 150 missing persons, mostly from Gambia and Senegal. Such incidents underscore the urgency of addressing the root causes of migration and providing safer alternatives.
President Faye acknowledged his government’s concern over the massive departures from Senegalese coasts but emphasized the need for a balanced approach that combines law enforcement with addressing the underlying causes of migration.
As part of ongoing efforts to curb irregular departures, the Senegalese army recently announced the arrest of 453 migrants and “members of smuggling networks” during a 12-day coastal patrol operation. More than half of those arrested were Senegalese nationals.
The agreements and initiatives announced during Sánchez’s tour reflect a growing recognition of the need for comprehensive, multilateral approaches to migration management. As Spain and its West African partners work to implement these measures, the international community will be watching closely to assess their impact on migration flows and regional development.
apnews.com
