The Canary Islands, an autonomous community of Spain, have returned to the global spotlight as a primary destination for irregular migrants from West Africa seeking to reach Europe. These migrants attempt to navigate across the waters, evading the oversight of security personnel and coast guards from North Africa and Europe.
The current wave of migrants aiming for the Canary Islands began in 2020, with 23,716 migrants arriving that year. By 2023, the number of irregular migrants from Africa had surged to 39,910— a substantial increase compared to 2006, when the islands faced the so-called “Cayuco Crisis,” named after the traditional boat used by smugglers. At that time, the Canary Islands received 31,678 migrants.
Drawing from Spanish records, field reports from migrant centers in the Canary Islands, and interviews with migrants from various African countries, this paper seeks to answer the following questions:
- Why do irregular migrants choose the Canary Islands?
- What are the routes they use to reach this archipelago from Africa?
- What factors contribute to irregular migration and the recent increase?
- How are Spain and African governments addressing this phenomenon?
- What recommendations can enhance current efforts?
Why the Canary Islands?
According to statistics from the Spanish Ministry of the Interior, over 22,300 irregular migrants reached the Canary Islands from January to mid-August this year (2024), representing a 126% increase compared to the same period last year. This suggests that the number of irregular migrants arriving at the islands before the end of the year could far exceed the figures of 2023, 2020, and 2006. Authorities in the Canary Islands have recently expressed concerns that the islands might receive around 150,000 additional irregular migrants from West Africa in the coming months of September, October, and November.
Most irregular migrants choose the Canary Islands, which has a population of approximately 2.2 million, because it is the closest point in Africa to a European country. The islands are situated directly off the coast of Morocco, about 100 kilometers west of the country, and are surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean. Although they are constitutionally part of Spain, the islands serve as a bridge between Africa, America, and Europe, being closer to Africa than to Europe.
The small island of El Hierro, with a population just over 11,400 and located at the westernmost point of the archipelago, is the primary destination for these migrants. The latest perilous journey to El Hierro occurred on August 23, 2024, when maritime rescue services saved a boat carrying 173 migrants. Records from 2023 also indicate that Lanzarote, the island closest to the African continent, is an important destination for migrants, along with other islands such as Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Fuerteventura, and La Gomera, which have also received some migrants.
Despite the difficulty of obtaining asylum in Spain, smugglers are drawn to the Canary Islands due to the relative comfort they offer. This is attributed to the presence of reception centers, health facilities, and police services. Furthermore, some current policies in the Canary Islands and Spain, which began in 2023, differ from those encountered by migrants during the COVID-19 pandemic between 2020 and 2021, when smugglers reactivated the Canary Islands route. Additionally, it is now easier for irregular migrants in the Canary Islands to move to the Spanish mainland to stay within Spain, live with their families, or attempt to migrate to another European country. This opportunity was not available before 2023.
Moreover, there are specific provisions for children and minors. It is observed that some boats carrying migrants to the Canary Islands include children and minors without their parents. This makes the Spanish regional government responsible for them, acting as their guardian and registering them in the care and education system after verifying their ages through bone tests.
Migration Routes to the Canary Islands and Beyond
Smugglers of irregular African migrants often prefer longer journeys to avoid border controls. They typically head west into the open Atlantic Ocean before continuing north to the Canary Islands. The primary routes used by smugglers from Africa to the Canary Islands can be divided into three main categories:
From Morocco and Western Sahara to the Canary Islands: This route was particularly common between 2020 and 2021 among Moroccans and migrants from West and North Africa, before Morocco’s relations with Spain were restored. The strict stance taken by Moroccan authorities, which prevented migrant boats from departing from desert and Moroccan shores—historically the main departure points—led to a significant decrease in smuggling activity along this route. Smugglers adapted by using new routes due to increased awareness of specific maritime conditions, and boat leaders began utilizing GPS navigation systems to chart a direct course to the island of El Hierro.
From Mauritania, Senegal, and other southern countries to the Canary Islands: This route has emerged as the main departure point for many recent irregular migrant boats due to difficulties associated with departing from Mediterranean routes, such as those from Algeria and Morocco to Spain or from Egypt, Libya, and Tunisia to Italy. The reliance on this route increased during the COVID-19 lockdown, as many young people sought to overcome economic hardships caused by strict closure policies. Additionally, the political crisis in Senegal between 2020 and 2024, during the tenure of former President Macky Sall, led to a surge in irregular migration from Senegal. In 2023, Senegal was the primary country of origin for most undocumented migrants arriving in the Canary Islands.
Reports also indicate that boats have departed from other southern countries, including Guinea, Gambia, and Guinea-Bissau. For Gambia, the capital, Banjul, and the coastal city of Barra to the north have been noted as departure points. The death of Gambian migrants and the rescue of others off the coast of Mauritania after departing from Gambian shores received international attention in 2019. In the case of Guinea, Guineans were the fifth most frequent nationality of irregular migrants to the Canary Islands in 2020, although their exact departure points remain unspecified, with a possibility of departure from as far north as Dakhla.
Post-arrival in the Canary Islands: Upon reaching the Canary Islands, irregular migrants face limited options, such as independently obtaining plane or ferry tickets to mainland Spain, even though their entry does not automatically fulfill their European aspirations. Despite the legal nature of leaving the islands for mainland Spain, humanitarian organizations have documented instances of police intimidation and port closures, which have forced some migrants to turn to smugglers or clandestine channels to ensure their departure from the islands.
Factors Influencing Irregular Migration from Africa to the Canary Islands
Several factors and reasons contribute to irregular migration from West Africa. These factors vary in importance and impact depending on the migrants’ nationalities and the routes they take to the Canary Islands. These factors and reasons can be summarized as follows:
Insecurity and Political Instability: Violence and political turmoil are major drivers of irregular migration, with many cases since 2019 originating from countries in West, East, and Central Africa affected by these issues. Young people migrate to countries and communities they perceive as safer and more stable after reaching a peak of frustration and mistrust in their own governments.
This factor is evident in the sharp rise in the number of migrants using the Canary Islands route since June 2022, with Senegalese migrants constituting a significant portion of this increase. This rise coincided with social unrest in Senegal, including violent protests and multiple deaths following the imprisonment of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko. A similar situation has recently unfolded in Mali, where nearly half of the new irregular migrants arriving in Spanish islands are from. Mali has been experiencing security conflict and an economic crisis since the August 2020 coup. Recent reports indicate that over 150,000 people in Mali are preparing to leave the country for neighboring Mauritania to board boats to the Canary Islands.
Economic and Climatic Crises: Despite the youth forming the majority of the population in African countries, many governments have failed to deliver on promises of economic transformation and job creation, while economic crises continue to worsen. For instance, travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic led to the collapse of the tourism and hospitality industries in Senegal and Morocco, exacerbating economic disparities across North and West Africa. This situation prompted workers and members of the working class, who are less likely to receive government support, to leave their countries in search of opportunities in Europe.
Some African youths migrating across the Atlantic to the Canary Islands reported that high living costs, inadequate healthcare, and the depletion of fishing stocks in their home countries due to Chinese and European vessels motivated their decision to leave. Other migrants cited droughts and other climatic crises that reduce agricultural and professional opportunities as reasons for their departure.
Social Pressures and Smuggler Promises: In many African countries, social pressure on young people, especially men, is significant, driving them to migrate by any means available, whether legal or irregular. This pressure increases when friends who have migrated irregularly from Europe visit their villages or towns and display signs of wealth, or when they read about the economic benefits of migration on social media and other platforms. This, combined with feelings of shame or inadequacy due to their inability to support their families, drives them to choose migration despite daily news reports of migrant boats capsizing, drowning, or disappearing.
It is worth noting that there are negative roles played by smugglers who only care about the money from potential irregular migrants. They portray irregular migration as an easy and quick way to obtain opportunities and documents from certain European countries. For instance, smugglers in Senegal track down young people seeking better opportunities and offer them a plan to travel to Europe on old fishing boats for around 300,000 West African Francs (490 USD). According to a report by the human rights organization Walking Borders, 6,007 people and about 5,504 people lost their lives in 2023 and between January and May 2024, respectively, during the maritime journey, making the Atlantic crossing to the Canary Islands the most dangerous migration route to Spain. This is despite the fact that sailing from Senegal to the islands usually takes a week and involves 1,600 kilometers of sailing against the wind.
The Response of Spanish and African Governments to the Phenomenon
Most efforts to contain the phenomenon of irregular migration from Africa to the Canary Islands come from the European Union and international organizations in general, and from Spain, the country that hosts these migrants specifically. Observing the varied responses, it becomes clear that departure countries, such as Senegal, Mali, Mauritania, Gambia, and Guinea, do not have any specific initiatives to address this phenomenon, despite its detrimental impact on their developmental, economic, health, and technological agendas. The governments of these countries adhere to the policies of the European Union and Spain, among other international organizations, which focus primarily on border security and migration governance, while neglecting the root causes and local factors driving migrants to risk their lives.
It is noteworthy that as part of Spain’s strategy to provide financial and security assistance to the departure points of migrant boats, the Spanish Civil Guard has been cooperating with the Senegalese Coast Guard since 2006 to intercept and deter migrants and enhance border monitoring. Additionally, the President of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo Batlle, was in discussions with the Spanish government in August regarding the islands’ attempts to welcome migrants and facilitate the relocation of children to areas that can offer them better living conditions.
In an effort to strengthen relations and support what Spain considers “local” efforts to control irregular migration, the Spanish government revealed that Pedro Sánchez, its Prime Minister, will visit Senegal, Gambia, and Mauritania for the second time this year. Similar to its current agreement with Senegal, Spain is expected to sign migration-related agreements with Gambia and Mauritania during this visit. These agreements will allow workers from these countries to enter Spain legally for short stays to meet labor demands, with their return to their home countries.
The current wave of irregular migration puts pressure on Spain to urge the European Union and NATO to focus their strategies on the Global South, particularly the Sahel region. This phenomenon has also prompted Spain to reconsider its return to Mali by providing bilateral military assistance after the closure of the European Union military mission in May 2023, due to the deteriorating relations between Bamako and Europe following the recent military coups and the arrival of Russian forces and “Wagner” mercenaries in the country to assist in combating terrorists and militants.
Recommendations
Given the current efforts and existing initiatives, which mostly focus on enhancing border control in key departure countries such as Mauritania, Senegal, and Gambia, the researcher suggests focusing on other aspects including:
- Evaluating the effectiveness of current initiatives and policies related to irregular migration to identify their strengths and weaknesses, as well as the reasons why some have failed to stop the flow of irregular migrants.
- Prioritizing the creation of job opportunities and local economic development by funding initiatives in West African countries from which migrants depart.
- Directing international cooperation and aid provided by Spain, the European Union, and others towards addressing the root causes of migration, such as poverty, conflict, and climate crises.
- Improving multiple legal migration pathways, as a complete eradication of migration is not feasible. Creating more legal migration options will facilitate the management of people flows and reduce reliance on dangerous and irregular routes that drain the talents of departure countries and resources of destination countries.
- Organizing public awareness campaigns about the dangers of smuggling irregular migrants and holding smugglers who deceive young people and steal their money legally accountable. Educating potential migrants about the risks of irregular migration and available legal alternatives will help reduce the number of people attempting these perilous journeys.
- Enhancing voluntary return initiatives for migrants in cooperation with international humanitarian organizations, local religious, social, and financial institutions, where specific amounts can be provided to returnees to start businesses and establish initiatives that meet their living needs and boost local economies and development.
Finally, these recommendations include elements that could be part of long-term strategies to address the fundamental issues driving migration in any possible way. These recommendations do not include solutions related to military aid as it remains a focus for European governments despite its failure to resolve what fuels humanitarian crises and mass migration.
References
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Report
https://dtm.iom.int/sites/g/files/tmzbdl1461/files/reports/2024.03%20-%20ENG%20-%20IOM%20-%20Flow%20From%20Western%20Af.pdf
Euronews Article – Canary Islands sees surge of migrant arrivals via West African route
https://www.euronews.com/2024/04/10/canary-islands-sees-surge-of-migrant-arrivals-via-west-african-route
Global Initiative Report – The resurgence of maritime irregular migration to the Canary Islands
https://globalinitiative.net/analysis/maritime-irregular-migration-canary-islands/
InfoMigrants Article – Mauritania – a new irregular migration gateway to Europe?
https://www.infomigrants.net/en/post/58013/mauritania–a-new-irregular-migration-gateway-to-europe
El País Article – Why is there a new surge in migrant boats to Spain’s Canary Islands?
https://english.elpais.com/spain/2023-10-13/why-is-there-a-new-surge-in-migrant-boats-to-spains-canary-islands.html
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