Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has commenced a diplomatic tour of Mauritania, Gambia, and Senegal. His primary objective is addressing irregular migration to Spain from these African nations. The tour, which will last until Thursday, aims to strengthen bilateral cooperation and establish new agreements on “circular migration,” to curb the flow of undocumented migrants to Spain.
Sánchez is set to meet with the presidents of Mauritania, Gambia, and Senegal to finalise agreements that facilitate controlled migration. These agreements will match the labour demands of Spanish companies with the aspirations of migrants from these African countries. Migrants could work in Spain under regulated conditions. After fulfilling their employment contracts, these workers would have to return to their home countries, ensuring a cyclical and orderly migration process.
The Spanish government has previously signed similar agreements with countries in Latin America, Morocco, and Senegal. Now it plans to include Mauritania and Gambia in this framework too. In 2023 alone, over 17,400 migrant workers benefited from these programs, with participants from Morocco, Colombia, Honduras, Ecuador, Senegal, Argentina, and Uruguay.
Strengthening economic and security cooperation
Accompanying Sánchez on this trip are several Spanish business leaders and the Minister of Inclusion, Social Security, and Migration, Elma Saiz. The final leg of the journey in Senegal will also see the involvement of the Minister of Economy, Trade, and Business, Carlos Cuerpo. The inclusion of Spanish entrepreneurs underscores the government’s commitment to fostering public-private partnerships in these African nations.
Another critical aspect of the trip is the focus on bolstering security cooperation. Sánchez will visit Gambia’s main port, where he will meet with Spanish patrol units collaborating with local police and the Guardia Civil to combat organised crime and human trafficking. The agreements to be signed will include measures to reinforce joint efforts in maintaining regional stability and controlling irregular migration.
Continued commitment to Africa
The Spanish government has emphasised its ongoing commitment to strengthening relations with the African continent. Sources from Moncloa have indicated that with the initiative “100 Action Proposals for the African Territory” the government will place significant emphasis on the Sahel and West Africa. Additionally, the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Business has been working on the “Africa Advances” project, which aims to finance development and investment initiatives that harness human capital to drive economic growth in these regions.
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