The Senegalese gendarmerie reported intercepting close to 100 illegal migrants during the past weekend, with the majority hailing from Mali and intending to head towards Europe.
In a series of operations conducted across Senegal’s coastal Thies and Saint-Louis regions between Friday and Saturday, a total of 93 illegal migrants were apprehended, according to an announcement by the gendarmerie made on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The intercepted migrants comprised 83 individuals from Mali, seven from the Gambia, and three from Mauritania, all neighboring countries of Senegal.
This action was part of the ongoing efforts in the fight against irregular migration, as highlighted by the gendarmerie.
Despite the perilous nature of the journey, thousands of Africans aspire for a better life in Europe every year, braving the Atlantic crossing. They often embark on modest boats or motorized canoes provided by smugglers, whom they pay for the passage.
Many of these migrants aim for the Canaries, a Spanish archipelago that serves as a common entry point to Europe.