By Frederik Steinhauser
Introduction
Mauritania’s strategic location has positioned it as a key hub for migration, with a growing number of migrants in recent years. This trend reflects the well-known instability in the Sahel region, contributing to heightened insecurity and migration flows. Currently, Mauritania hosts a significant number of refugees, many of whom are attempting to reach Europe.
In the early months of 2024, there was a notable increase in the number of irregular migrants traveling from West African countries to the Canary Islands, Spain. This surge occurred along the West African Atlantic Route (WAAR), connecting several nations including Morocco, Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia, and Western Sahara with Spain.
Recognizing the impact of uncontrolled illegal immigration on one of the deadliest routes that African people take to reach Spain (WAAR), the European Union signed a Migration Partnership with Nouakchott, Mauritania’s capital, in March 2024.
Mauritania and Illegal Migration
In 2022, 15,682 migrants arrived illegally in the Canary Islands. By 2023, this number surged to 39,827 individuals. Between January 1st and June 23rd, 2024, 19,108 migrants arrived in Spain through the WAAR, with over 5,000 people dying in the attempt. Over 80% of the boats used for these journeys departed from or transited through Mauritania. The surge in migration has increased activities by criminal organizations controlling migrant traffic, raising concerns about potential growth in human trafficking.
To address this, the EU and the Spanish government announced on February 8th the allocation of 210 million euros to enhance cooperation with Mauritania in combating migrant smuggling, terrorism, and human trafficking along the Canary route.
On March 7th, Ylva Johansson, the European Commissioner for Home Affairs, and Mohamed Ahmed Ould Mohamed Lemine, the Mauritanian Minister of Interior and Decentralization, signed a joint declaration in Nouakchott, establishing a partnership on migration management.
This partnership aims to create job opportunities for young Mauritanians, improve protection and asylum capabilities, and promote legal migration. It supports Nouakchott’s efforts to manage refugee arrivals and strengthens capacities for identifying, registering, and documenting asylum seekers. Additionally, it aligns with Global Gateway Initiatives, fostering investments in infrastructure and job creation, particularly in the energy sector.
To combat terrorism in the Sahel, Ursula von der Leyen announced an increase in the EU security assistance fund from 22 million to 40 million euros. This funding aims to equip a new Mauritanian battalion to secure the eastern border with Mali and provide training for senior officers at the Defense College. Following the prison escape of four terrorists from Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) in March 2023, fears of future terrorist attacks have heightened, although no terrorist attacks have been recorded in Mauritania since 2011.
Despite similarities to previous agreements, such as the Spain-Mauritania Joint Declaration in 2022, this partnership has faced criticism. Some Mauritanian opposition groups are concerned about national security risks and economic resources, fearing that Mauritania could become a refugee hub. The Spanish NGO Caminando Fronteras reported a 177% increase in deaths and missing persons in 2023 compared to previous years, indicating that such partnerships are ineffective in reducing migrant deaths.
Africa still has the lowest average per capita income globally, despite sustained robust economic growth since 2000. With 35% of people in Sub-Saharan Africa living in poverty, there is enormous pressure on income-earning household members to secure employment. This economic strain, combined with structural and governance challenges, is leading to a steady increase in African migration. If current trends persist, cross-border migration from Africa could reach 11 to 12 million people by 2050, with most migrants passing through Côte d’Ivoire and Nigeria.
Furthermore, Freedom House classifies Mauritania as “Partly Free”, noting prevalent discrimination against Afro-Mauritanians, the Haratin population, women, and LGBT+ people, that resulted in violent riots and protests in 2023 and July 2024. Consequently, the increase in immigrants from neighboring countries threatens regional stability.
Due to Mauritania’s history of externalization policies since 2006, there is little hope that this deal will completely stop illegal migration to Europe. Migrants will probably continue seeking alternative routes in response to restrictions and crackdowns. Therefore, this migration deal is unlikely to make a significant long-term impact on reducing illegal migration.
Geopolitical and Trade Potentials with Mauritania
Mauritania, located between Sub-Saharan Africa and North Africa, has a large number of natural resources, including oil, natural gas, and minerals. This offers significant opportunities for the EU in terms of security, stability, and trade.
In the north, Mauritania’s Exclusive Economic Zone contains some of the world’s richest fishing grounds, with an estimated annual catch of 750,000 tons. The fishing sector is crucial to the local economy, contributing between 4 to 10 percent of Mauritania’s GDP and accounting for between 35 to 50% of Mauritania’s exports.
Moreover, Mauritania can also readily position itself as West Africa’s renewable energy hub, with 700,000 square kilometers of available territory for solar panel and wind turbine construction. In March 2023, German project developer Conjuncta signed a memorandum of understanding with Egypt’s energy provider Infinity and the United Arab Emirates’ Masdar for a $34 billion green hydrogen project in Mauritania. This project could lead to the production of up to 8 million metric tons of green hydrogen per year.
The Chinese and Russian Influence
Its location and relative political stability make it a focal point for external powers like China and Russia, whose expanding influence in the Sahel region presents significant challenges for the EU.
Since the establishment of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in 2000, China’s investment stock in Africa has increased dramatically, from 210 million to 47.35 billion dollars.
Mauritania joined the Belt and Road Initiative in 2018 and on July 28, 2023, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani in Chengdu, China. This meeting underscored the growing ties between the nations and the two countries signed a comprehensive cooperation agreement, covering agriculture, fisheries, and green energy sectors.
Chinese investments in Mauritania also have a significant military dimension. In 2016, the Chinese defense company Polytechnology began constructing a commercial port in the Mauritanian city of N’Diago. The facility includes a military dock capable of accommodating naval vessels, a naval base, and a commercial quay that can handle multiple 180-meter-long boats. Additionally, it features a fishing port with seven landing docks and a shipyard capable of servicing 70 ships annually. Situated at the mouth of the Senegal River, this port is designed to enhance Mauritania’s logistical and maritime capabilities, bolster the operational capacity of its armed forces, and reinforce state sovereignty over its exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
At the same time, Russia’s strategy involves a combination of arms sales, political support for authoritarian leaders, and security collaboration in return for mining rights, business opportunities, and diplomatic backing for Russia’s foreign policy objectives.
Russia has signed military cooperation agreements with 43 African countries, and remains a significant, albeit decreasing, arms supplier to Africa.
The support of African allies has been especially important to Russia at the United Nations (UN), as African countries represent a quarter of all votes in the General Assembly.
In February 2023, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov visited Mauritania, marking a historic moment in the bilateral relations between Moscow and Nouakchott. The discussions between Lavrov and Mauritanian President Ghazouani centered on several key issues, including economic cooperation, security, and humanitarian initiatives. A primary goal of the meeting was to improve the working conditions for Russian fishermen operating in Mauritania’s exclusive economic zone. Additionally, Lavrov offered support to Mauritania in combating terrorism in the Gulf of Guinea.
Following the restructuring of the Wagner Group into the Africa Corps, Russian soldiers have been deployed in Mali and Niger to assist in combating terrorism. Additional troops have been sent to Burkina Faso, and Moscow is engaged in talks with Sudan regarding the construction of a military port on the Red Sea. Russia’s strategy appears to be focused on establishing a military presence in the Sahel region, suggesting that security talks with Mauritania may occur in the coming years. Establishing a military port facing the Atlantic Ocean could provide Russia with strategic advantages, including stronger military influence in the Mediterranean region, control over Atlantic commercial routes, and the potential to undermine American maritime supremacy.
Conclusion
Given Mauritania’s potential in commercial trade, natural resources, and its strategic geopolitical position, the European Union must significantly increase its investments and cooperation with the country. Enhancing financial support will bolster economic partnerships and be crucial for effective migration control and regional stability. The EU should prioritize deepening security collaborations to strengthen Mauritania’s capabilities in combating terrorism and managing migration flows, expanding security assistance, providing advanced training to Mauritanian forces, and improving humanitarian aid to ensure humane treatment and better integration of migrants.
Promoting legal migration channels for students, researchers, and entrepreneurs will foster educational exchange and economic collaboration, reducing reliance on perilous migration routes. Furthermore, intensifying diplomatic efforts to solidify Mauritania as a key ally will counter the geopolitical advances of China and Russia.
This approach will ensure that the EU remains a dominant force in the Sahel, promoting peace, security, and sustainable development in the face of global geopolitical shifts.
About the Author
Frederik Steinhauser holds a degree in Political Science and International Relations from the University of Parma, Italy. He specializes in European and American defense and security, contributing his expertise to two prominent think tanks in these areas. Additionally, he works with an Italian NGO to promote and manage Model United Nations projects.
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