Senegal and Mauritania are key countries along the route from West Africa to the Canary Islands. In 2020, after several years of decreased usage, there was a 900 percent increase in arrivals compared to the previous year. This figure prompted Spain and European institutions to refocus their attention on these two countries. The Atlantic Route, which has been the site of experiments in mobility containment, selection practices, and the delegation of border controls and asylum rights since 2006, has once again gained international attention. Negotiations began in February 2022 to sign a status agreement with Frontex, enabling the deployment of its agents in Senegal and Mauritania.
To investigate the implementation of externalization policies and their effects, a group of ASGI associates – lawyers, legal operators, and researchers – conducted a legal survey in Nouakchott, Mauritania, and Dakar, Senegal, from May 7 to 13, 2022.
The report provides an overview of the survey, during which more than 45 individuals, including institutions, international organizations, NGOs, and migrant people, were interviewed.
