The Diplomat
The Guardia Civil patrol boat ‘Río Tajo’ with 168 migrants on board, which has been anchored for four days in the bay of Nouadhibou, has set course for Senegal after Mauritania refused to take them in, government sources told Europa Press.
The situation on the boat is “calm within the complexity” and the Ministry of the Interior “has not ceased to take the necessary steps”. Yesterday morning it was hoped that the situation would be resolved imminently, which it has been, and it is now on its way to Senegal, where it is expected to arrive today, Tuesday.
In a statement, the Unified Association of Civil Guards (AUGC) had also pointed out that the agreed solution is for the migrants to be transferred to Senegal, as this is the country from which most of the people rescued at sea originate, in view of Mauritania’s refusal to accept the disembarkation.
Interior Ministry sources, for their part, indicated that the crew of the ‘Río Tajo’ has at all times ensured the safety and health of the rescued people. Yesterday morning, the Guardia Civil set up a system so that those rescued could contact their families in turn.
The Guardia Civil detachment in Nouadhibou “constantly” supplied the ship with food and supplies, which ensured water and food for the rescued persons, according to the aforementioned sources.
These rescued persons also received medical attention from the crew, especially one of the migrants who, at the time of his rescue, was suffering from severe dehydration. Cases of heat stroke and some injuries sustained while sailing in the cayuco were also treated.
In addition, the Red Cross of the Sea provided blankets and other utensils to improve the living conditions of the rescued people. The deck of the ‘Río Tajo’ was fitted out with small awnings to protect the immigrants from the sun and the ship, according to the Interior, did not stop sailing in the bay of Nouadhibou to allow the sea breeze to reduce the high temperatures that can be reached on the boat.
According to sources from the Civil Guard on Saturday, the Spanish patrol boat had been alongside Mauritania since 24 August, four days ago, with 168 migrants on board who had previously been rescued from another boat.
During this time, there have been some tense moments and, according to sources in this body, some dissuasive shots were fired into the air by the agents. It was also decided to reinforce the number of agents on the Guardia Civil ship, mobilising personnel stationed at the Nouadhibou detachment.
The Interior explained on Sunday that relations with Mauritania are “excellent”, as demonstrated by the work of joint patrols and investigations with a high level of collaboration. They pointed out, as an example, that in 2021, 55 boats arrived in the Canary Islands from the coast of this country and that last year there were five, the same figure so far this year.
AUGC also gathered information on the situation to denounce the “distressing conditions” suffered by agents and migrants, which they blame on the lack of cooperation from Mauritania, according to sources from this organisation.
On its account on the social network X, AUGC said on Saturday afternoon that there were so far unsuccessful negotiations between the European agency Frontex and the Mauritanian authorities. Yesterday, it insisted that there had been moments of tension with shots fired into the air “in the face of a possible mutiny”, with poor hygiene conditions, with a “degrading situation for the civil guards”.
In a statement, JUCIL also reported on Sunday that it was following “very closely the serious events” on board the patrol boat ‘Río Tajo’, showing its fear of “a new mutiny”.
This association questioned the management of Frontex and asked the Directorate General of the Civil Guard to inform the families about the current state of the crew and the measures it will take in the coming hours.
