In a distressing turn of events, sub-Saharan migrants expelled from Mauritania are finding precarious refuge in Rosso, Senegal, a city straddling the border between the two nations. Recent reports indicate a troubling wave of expulsions from Mauritania, with the Senegalese authorities and numerous NGOs expressing alarm over several hundred undocumented individuals being forcibly removed. Among these migrants are individuals like Diallo, who was apprehended in Nouakchott during a simple food purchase.
Diallo, a Guinean national, found himself arrested for being a foreigner—a status he never sought to hide. "They tell you 'you’re a foreigner, right?', you say yes, and they take you. Two days, we are locked up there. If you don't have the money to buy food, wallah, you're going to die in the cell," he recounted, illustrating the harsh realities faced by many in similar situations.
Further complicating the plight of these migrants is Camara, a young woman who, despite being pregnant and caring for a two-year-old daughter, was also expelled. "He caught me at home, I was lying down, so he comes, knocks, when you open the door, he takes you, handcuffs you, you go to prison. I did a week in prison. There is no food. They beat the boys," she shared, summarizing the gross injustices she faced during her detainment.
The situation at the border is certainly dire, as many migrants, including Camara, have lost all their possessions in the chaotic rush to remove them from Mauritania. Stranded in Rosso for nearly a month now, she finds herself living in a temporary shelter beside other unjustly expelled individuals. Each recounts similar tales of maltreatment, and the frustrations compound as advocates press for humane treatment.
Sylla, a former hairdresser who had to return to his native Guinea, voices the disgust felt by many migrants about the treatment they received. "Why do you treat us like this? The Guinean has done nothing wrong in Mauritania," he laments, highlighting a growing call for better diplomatic responses from their home country regarding the treatment of its citizens abroad.
Meanwhile, the Senegalese Gendarmerie has been busy as well, recently announcing the arrest of 59 individuals attempting irregular migration in a coastal village on its Atlantic side. This brings the tally since March 14, 2025, to over 400 arrests, showcasing the desperation driving many to hazardous journeys. The Gendarmerie reported that these arrests included individuals from Guinea, Gambia, Ivory Coast, and Sierra Leone among others, with 16 of those arrested being young women—a stark reminder of the dangerous choices faced by those seeking a better life.
As authorities work to combat what they term 'irregular emigration,' it appears that the repercussions have only intensified. More than 374 individuals were apprehended over a single weekend between March 14 and 16, spotlighting a systematic pattern of migration amid alarming economic conditions across the region.
NGOs have expressed growing concern, emphasizing that this spike in arrests reflects a far bigger problem—economic despair. In a joint statement, groups such as Action pour les droits humains et l’amitié (ADHA) and the Mouvement international d’apostolat des milieux sociaux indépendants (Miamsi-Sénégal) noted, "Irregular migration is primarily the symptom of a deeper malaise, marked by the lack of economic opportunities, job precariousness, and the absence of viable prospects for youth." The sobering figures indicate that, in 2024 alone, around 47,000 migrants embarked on perilous sea journeys in an attempt to reach Europe, highlighting the urgency of the situation again.
Tragic losses have ensued, with reports indicating over 10,400 migrants dying or disappearing at sea while trying to reach Spain during 2024. This shocking number serves as a chilling reminder not only of the peril faced by migrants but also of the need for immediate political and social action.
As more individuals pack alongside families yet again to attempt clandestine crossings, pressing questions remain: What steps will be taken to tackle the challenges these migrants face? How will their conditions improve? And how soon can we expect systemic changes to offer hope and sustainable solutions to a population steeped in desperation? Until then, stories like those of Diallo, Camara, and Sylla continue echoing the cry for justice in a landscape fraught with peril and longing for a better life.
