Nouakchott, November 02, 2026 : Mauritanian authorities have rescued 134 people from a boat carrying irregular migrants bound for Spain's Canary Islands, near the port of Nouadhibou in the country's north.
According to a statement by the Mauritanian military, the rescued group comprised 118 men, 14 women and two children, whose nationalities were not specified.
The military said the operation was part of ongoing naval efforts to conduct sea rescues, combat irregular migration and human-smuggling networks, and strengthen maritime security and safety.
Mauritanian authorities have rescued hundreds of people off the country's coast in recent months, most of them reportedly from Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea and Mali.
Thousands of people have died or gone missing in recent years while attempting to reach Europe by sea. The Atlantic route to the Canary Islands remains a perilous journey for migrants, many of whom travel in overcrowded and poorly maintained boats.
Source: QNA
