Immigration in Mauritania: A Fragile Balance Between European Cooperation and Internal Challenges

In an interview with The Conversation Africa, researcher Jocelyne Streiff-Fénart provides an in-depth analysis of Mauritania’s migration policy and discusses at length the recent expulsions of migrants, particularly those from Senegal and Mali. These expulsions, which are part of Mauritania’s commitments to the European Union to combat irregular immigration, have sparked strong reactions in Senegal and beyond. They raise concerns about the living conditions of migrants and are accompanied by accusations of racism. Furthermore, these expulsions fuel internal tensions due to nationalism and the socio-economic issues related to immigration.
An Evolving Migration Policy
Mauritania’s migration policy has evolved over the years. Jocelyne Streiff-Fénart explains that, since the 2022 migration agreement between Nouakchott and Madrid and the 2024 European Union-Mauritania partnership, this policy is part of a dynamic initiated about twenty years ago. She further states that since 2004, Mauritania has become a testing ground for the European policy of externalizing borders, especially after migratory flows shifted towards Nouadhibou, having initially targeted Gibraltar and the Spanish enclaves in Morocco. Thanks to mechanisms such as Seahorse, Atlantis, and the Frontex program, as Jocelyne Streiff-Fénart points out, Mauritania has played a laboratory role for European migration policies, aimed at limiting irregular migration in exchange for financial and logistical resources.
From this partnership with the EU, she says, Mauritania has derived several benefits, including international recognition that has positioned it as a key player in migration management. Despite these benefits, the issue of immigration has not always been a priority in local political discourse. The researcher specifies that in Nouadhibou, for example, in the early 2000s, the presence of migrants did not arouse any particular hostility. They were integrated into the local economic fabric, without distinctions between regular and clandestine migrants having much importance.
Internal Tensions: Between Nationalism and Migrations
However, under pressure from European institutions, these distinctions have intensified. Since 2006, according to Streiff-Fénart, the strengthening of controls has led to preventive arrests and mass expulsions, mainly targeting so-called “clandestine” migrants, but also affecting all foreign populations. “This hardening of migration policies has occurred in a political context marked by populist nationalism, with measures such as the ‘Mauritanianization of jobs’ and a biometric program launched in 2011 to certify Mauritanian identity,” she indicated. These measures have been perceived as discriminatory, particularly towards Black African populations, exacerbating socio-racial tensions.
According to her, internal tensions have intensified, notably between “White” Moors, Black Moors, and Haratines. Jocelyne Streiff-Fénart notes that accusations of racial discrimination have revived the memory of the 1989 events, during which a massive exodus of Black Mauritanians towards Senegal took place. These tensions are now visible in debates on immigration, where some consider migrants as a demographic threat and competition in the job market.
Recent Expulsions and Their Consequences
The recent expulsions of Senegalese and Malians by Mauritania have been fueled by the resurgence of the migratory route to the Canary Islands, with over 40,000 migrants arriving in 2020. This phenomenon has drawn the attention of European authorities, who have responded by strengthening their partnerships with Spain and Mauritania to intensify the fight against irregular immigration. Although humanitarian measures have been announced, actions remain mainly security-focused, according to the researcher, concentrating on joint patrols and mass expulsions.
“This hardening has provoked considerable internal tensions. The opposition sees immigration as a demographic threat and competition in the job market,” she emphasized. She added that these expulsions also aim to reinforce the government’s image of firmness. Furthermore, they have exacerbated diplomatic relations, particularly with Senegal, which expressed its discontent through a visit by the Senegalese minister to Nouakchott. Protests have also been led by NGOs and local civil society, denouncing the treatment of the expelled.
Challenges Faced by Migrants
At the same time, migrants in Mauritania face increasingly precarious living conditions. These difficulties manifest in two main aspects: administrative “harassment” and the rise of racism, fueled by internal racial tensions and growing xenophobia towards foreigners with Black phenotypes.
A Strategic but Complex Geographical Position
Mauritania’s geographical position plays a key role in this dynamic. Located between Black Africa and White Africa, as well as between the Sahelian and Saharan zones, it is a strategic transit point for populations in the region. Despite its withdrawal from ECOWAS in 2000, Mauritania remains an unavoidable migratory crossroads. However, this geographical position also generates internal challenges, exacerbated by tensions related to immigration and the management of migratory flows.