MIGRATION FLOWS
Western Mediterranean and Atlantic
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The Route
The Western Mediterranean Route connects the northwest coasts of Africa with Spain. Migrants along this route mainly come from Sub-Saharan and West African countries such as Morocco, Algeria, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Guinea, and Burkina Faso. They usually depart from the coasts of Morocco, Algeria, and sometimes Mauritania, though there are also departure points in Senegal.
Departures and destinations
- The most frequent departures toward the Iberian Peninsula take place from the Tangier area (Strait of Gibraltar) and the Rif region of Morocco, as well as from Algeria.
- Departures also take place from the coasts of Algeria to the Balearic Islands.
- Finally, although to a lesser extent, there are departures from Western Sahara toward the Canary Islands, along what is known as the “Atlantic Route.” These journeys start from southern Morocco, Mauritania, and Senegal. Spain’s Maritime Rescue Service operates along this route.
- Another destination for people trying to enter the EU — in this case by land — are the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla.
Details
In general, the route connecting Morocco to mainland Spain has fluctuated depending on border control policies and agreements reached between the two countries.
The route toward the Canary Islands saw a sharp increase in 2020 and 2021, remaining high through 2022 and 2023. This is largely due to increased controls in the Mediterranean and the search for alternative routes that are longer, but equally dangerous.