For many years, Mauritania remained on the periphery of international attention. Recently, however, it has garnered increased interest, not only as a stable Saharan state but also as a critical junction in migration routes—both as a country of origin and transit. In recent years, an increasing number of Mauritanians have reached the U.S.-Mexico border, marking a new trend in African migration.
Traditional West African Migration Routes
Historically, Mauritanians have followed two primary migration paths: overland through Africa or directly by sea. According to Moussa Elimane Sall from the RIM Youth Climate Movement, native Mauritanians often opt for overland routes across the Sahara. Their familiarity with the desert climate allows them to traverse the vast, arid, and often borderless expanses of the Sahara to reach North Africa and the Mediterranean. By contrast, migrants from southern West Africa tend to choose sea routes. Many in Mauritania claim that the lights of the Canary Islands can be seen from the port of Nouadhibou—a misconception—but it is from here that colorful pirogues laden with people embark on perilous journeys toward the Spanish islands. While thousands succeed in reaching their destination, thousands more are lost, with some boats being found as far away as the Caribbean.
The migration route from Mauritania to the Canary Islands has seen a marked increase in recent years. In 2023, a Proof of Concept (POC) project was launched to combat human trafficking and illegal migration networks. The European Union committed to providing Mauritania with €210 million in February 2024 to assist in addressing these challenges. Notably, 83% of migrants who reach the Canary Islands depart from Mauritania. Similar agreements to curb illegal migration have been signed with Morocco, Tunisia, and Egypt, reflecting a broader strategy across North Africa.
However, these agreements have sparked opposition in Mauritania, particularly concerning the stipulation that the country would accept migrants deported from Europe. While the government has sought to allay these fears, the public remains anxious. Mauritania, already grappling with poverty, drought, and internal social inequalities, now faces the added pressure of incoming refugees. According to the UNHCR, as of January 2024, there were 200,000 refugees and asylum seekers in Mauritania, mainly from Mali, with this number expected to rise.
Internal Displacement and the New South American Route
Both refugees and Mauritanians themselves are eager to leave in search of better opportunities, though reliable data on migration flows are difficult to obtain. Internally displaced persons (IDPs) and transiting migrants often go uncounted, with Nouakchott, the capital, being the primary destination. Despite the scale of migration, there remains a lack of comprehensive statistics on both arrivals and departures, whether of locals or foreigners.
In recent years, a new, seemingly more attractive migration route has emerged. Countries in South America, such as Brazil, Ecuador, and Nicaragua, began offering easily obtainable visas to Mauritanians. This new pathway quickly spread across social media platforms, promoted by travel agencies on TikTok and other networks. One of the most popular routes for Mauritanians now involves traveling through Turkey, Colombia, El Salvador, and Nicaragua. From there, many hope to join the northward migration stream toward the United States. Numerous online videos explain this “easy” route, highlighting the visa-on-arrival policies in Nicaragua for Mauritanians and other Africans while conveniently omitting the dangers of the journey ahead.
Unfamiliar with the harsh environments of South and Central America, these migrants face threats from armed groups, gangs, and extreme climate conditions. Those traveling to South America must navigate the treacherous Darién Gap, a notorious jungle crossing that has been the subject of several recent reports due to record-breaking numbers of migrants. Given these circumstances, it is unsurprising that stories of Mauritanians disappearing along this route are common. In response, families in Mauritania have formed committees to search for missing relatives using all available resources.
In 2021, various human rights groups urged the Biden administration to grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Mauritanians, citing ongoing human rights abuses and social inequalities in the country. The press release states that Mauritania, the last country in the world to criminalize slavery in 2007, continues to face accusations that the practice persists. It is estimated that 90,000 people are currently enslaved in Mauritania, though the United Nations suggests the figure could be as high as 680,000—nearly 20% of the country’s population of 3.4 million. Human rights organizations have also raised concerns about the treatment of Black Mauritanians, many of whom face deportation after fleeing these abuses. Despite these advocacy efforts, there has been little success in securing TPS for Mauritanians.
Africans on the Move
As European nations tighten their migration policies, Mauritanians are not the only Africans seeking new horizons. Increasingly, Africans from various countries are turning their attention to the Americas, lured by the promise of better opportunities. Data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) indicates a significant rise in the number of African migrants passing through Central America. Between 2022 and 2023, 42,386 Africans entered Honduras, while 10,104 entered Panama. In Panama, the majority of these migrants came from Cameroon (18%), Somalia (12%), and Angola (11%). In Honduras, Guinea accounted for 30%, followed by Senegal (20%) and Mauritania (14%).
Moreover, the IOM report highlights that the number of Africans crossing the notorious Darién Gap—an arduous jungle route connecting South and Central America—quadrupled between 2022 and 2023, though precise numbers were not provided. This surge mirrors broader migration trends in the region, as Africans increasingly seek passage through Latin America to the United States.
At the U.S.-Mexico border, 13,406 African migrants were encountered in 2022, a figure that jumped to 58,462 by 2023. Among these, Mauritanians (15,263) and Senegalese (13,526) made up nearly half of the total. While these numbers are still small compared to the estimated 150,000 Africans who cross into Europe annually, they reflect a growing shift in African migration patterns.
The increase in African migration to the Americas coincides with a broader rise in migration across the Western Hemisphere. According to the World Bank, between 2022 and 2023, the number of migrants in Latin America and the Caribbean rose by 8%, significantly higher than the 1.9% increase in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa during the same period. In 2023, the Darién Gap reached a record-breaking milestone, with half a million migrants traversing the route. That same year, over two million migrants illegally crossed the U.S.-Mexico border, reflecting the ongoing crisis at America’s southern frontier.
This growing migration crisis in the Americas may resemble Europe’s 2015 crisis when an influx of refugees fleeing war-torn countries was joined by economic migrants seeking better opportunities. Although many African migrants may not initially plan to travel to the U.S., they are often compelled to continue northward due to the severe racial discrimination they encounter in Latin America. Racial prejudice in the region is both systemic and institutional, manifesting in various forms, including harassment by authorities and substandard detention conditions for African migrants. The difficulties African migrants face in Latin America do not end when they reach the U.S. Unfair treatment and discrimination toward African migrants have been documented in the U.S. as well. Despite these challenges, many Africans continue to apply for asylum once they reach the U.S., hoping for a better future.
Countries such as Somalia, Angola, Cameroon, Guinea, and Senegal rank among the top 50 nations in terms of asylum applications per million inhabitants, according to WorldData. In the U.S., acceptance rates for asylum claims vary by nationality. For example, in 2023, 25% of new asylum applications from Senegal were accepted, while 41.9% of existing reviews were approved. Guinea fared better, with 59.1% of new applications and 72.1% of reviews being accepted. Cameroonians experienced the highest success rate, with an 87% acceptance rate for new applications and a 100% success rate in reviews. Angolan migrants also saw relatively high acceptance rates, at 60% and 72%, respectively. By contrast, Somali migrants had significantly lower approval rates, with just 7.3% of new applications accepted, though 51.7% of reviews were approved.
In Europe, where African migration remains more substantial, asylum recognition rates tend to be lower. For example, only about 20% of Senegalese applicants and 30% of Guinean applicants—both of which saw their numbers nearly double in a year—were granted refugee status or subsidiary protection. The rest were not recognized, highlighting the more challenging path African migrants face in Europe compared to the U.S.
The rise in African migration to the U.S. has led to a shift in the composition of African communities in America. For instance, while there were previously an estimated 8,000 Mauritanians residing legally in the U.S. with visas, between March and June 2023 alone, around 8,500 Mauritanians crossed the U.S. border illegally. This influx of newcomers, many of whom bypass the traditional visa system, is reshaping African migration dynamics in the U.S.
Immigration is poised to be a central issue in the U.S. elections taking place at the time of publishing this text, with many Americans expressing concerns about the growing number of migrants and the potential impact on national security. Former President Donald Trump has explicitly linked the surge in border crossings with rising violent crime, further stoking fears about the influx of migrants. As the U.S. grapples with these challenges, the future of African migration to the Americas remains uncertain, but the trend shows no signs of abating.
