Senegal’s navy stopped 118 would-be migrants off the country’s coast, the latest in a series of interceptions of migrants on canoes seeking to reach Europe, the military said.
A patrol boat intercepted the 118 would-be migrants off the coast of Saint-Louis in the country’s north, the statement said.
They were to be sent early Wednesday evening to Dakar it said without giving further details.
France’s Navy has reported on social media several operations to board canoes, rescue or assist illegal migrants since August 23, notably off the coast of Saint-Louis.
In total, more than 1,000 migrants have been caught up in the operations in the past two weeks.
Around 60 Senegalese are presumed to have perished after setting sail in July aboard a canoe that ran into difficulty off the coast of Cape Verde on August 14.
Thousands of Africans hoping for a better life try every year to reach Europe over the Atlantic despite the danger of the journey which kills hundreds.