Eduardo González
The Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, thanked his Senegalese counterpart, Mouhamadou Bamba Cissé, on Tuesday for the “preventive, daily, and ongoing effectiveness” of Senegalese authorities in controlling irregular migration “both at its borders and along its coasts,” which has led to a 90 percent reduction in arrivals to the Canary Islands from Senegal.
During a bilateral meeting within the framework of the Sixth Ministerial Meeting of the International Security Alliance, held in Abu Dhabi, Grande-Marlaska described Senegal as a “key partner and ally” of Spain “in protecting vulnerable migrants, preventing the loss of human lives, and combating human trafficking networks.”
“As of October 31 of this year, fewer than 600 people have arrived irregularly in the Canary Islands from the Senegalese coast, representing a reduction of more than 90 percent compared to 2024,” stated the minister, who also highlighted the “excellent” collaboration between the police forces of both countries on the ground. According to the Ministry of the Interior, bilateral cooperation has led to 3,500 interceptions in 2025, five times more than in 2024.
Currently, Spain maintains a contingent of forty members of the National Police and the Civil Guard in Senegal, collaborating with the Senegalese Gendarmerie and National Police on land, sea, and river patrols. In addition, Spain has three vessels (two deep-sea and one medium-sea), a helicopter, and 13 all-terrain vehicles, and periodically deploys a surveillance aircraft and an ocean-going vessel.
Spain is also collaborating within the framework of European projects, such as the Joint Operational Partnership (JOP) and NETCOP, both in their second phase, “essential for continuing to advance in border control, the fight against terrorism, and transnational crime,” stated Grande-Marlaska.
Both ministers have committed to deepening bilateral cooperation and joint participation in international forums, such as the Niamey Declaration, to combat human trafficking and smuggling, and the International Security Alliance, which met this Tuesday in Abu Dhabi.