(Ecofin Agency) - Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will embark on a tour of West Africa this week, according to multiple sources. His visit, scheduled from August 27 to 29, 2024, will take him to Mauritania, Gambia, and Senegal. Discussions will primarily focus on bilateral cooperation, with a particular emphasis on migration—a pressing issue in both Spain and Europe.

Sanchez aims to strengthen cooperation with West African leaders in response to the rising number of migrants leaving the region’s coasts, especially from Mauritania, to reach Spain's Canary Islands. The West African coast, particularly Mauritania, has become a major departure point for migrants attempting to reach Europe via the Canary Islands, an archipelago off the coast of Africa. Between January 1 and August 15, 2024, 22,304 irregular migrants arrived in the Canary Islands, marking a 126.1% increase compared to the previous year, according to a report from Spain's Ministry of the Interior.

To address this situation, Mauritania signed a €210 million agreement with the European Union in March. And in July 2024, a €180 million ($201 million) cooperation framework was announced with Senegal for the next four years.

This visit marks Sanchez's second trip to Africa this year, following his February visit to Morocco, another key departure point for irregular migrants heading to Europe.