Mauritania’s coast guard on Saturday said it rescued 227 irregular migrants aboard a vessel intercepted off the coast of Nouadhibou in the country’s northwest.
In a statement, the coast guard said one of its patrols stopped the boat after a “tragic” and prolonged journey of more than 10 days. It said the passengers — among them women and children — were severely fatigued and suffering from hunger and dehydration.
According to the statement, the migrants were of several West African nationalities, including 135 from Gambia and 73 from Guinea, while the remainder were from Senegal and Guinea-Bissau.
Authorities said medical assistance and food were provided upon their arrival at Nouadhibou port. One Senegalese passenger died shortly after being transferred to a hospital.
Mauritania has become a major transit point for Africans attempting to reach Europe, with the northern city of Nouadhibou serving as a key hub for migration routes toward Spain’s Canary Islands.
The country maintains cooperation agreements with European partners, particularly Spain, to curb irregular migration. Patrols have been intensified in recent months, resulting in the interception of dozens of migrant boats traveling through Mauritanian territorial waters.