Mauritania intensifies expulsions to Senegal after 2025 policy shift
Mauritania has intensified the return of non‑Senegalese migrants, sending them across the border to Senegal after a policy shift reported at the end of 2025. The new practice is ongoing as of August 2026 and mainly affects migrants expelled from Mauritania, especially Black foreign nationals from West Africa.
В этой новости
Эта новость ещё не переведена на ваш язык, поэтому показана на английском.
Коротко
- What changes
- Mauritanian forces now return non‑Senegalese migrants to their home countries rather than keep them in Senegal
- Timing
- The practice began around the end of 2025 and continued through August 2026
- Who is affected
- Migrants expelled from Mauritania to Senegal, particularly Black foreign nationals
Подробности
- Кто объявил
- Mauritanian authorities
- Вступает в силу
- around the end of 2025
- Прежнее правило
- Before the end of 2025 expulsions were not systematically limited to non‑Senegalese nationals.
- Новое правило
- Since the end of 2025 Mauritanian forces return non‑Senegalese migrants to their countries of origin, often using night raids and unofficial river crossing points.
Shift in enforcement policy
Field research by the Mixed Migration Centre (MMC) recorded that Mauritanian security operations changed after Senegalese officials asked that non‑Senegalese nationals be sent back to their countries of origin. The shift was first noticed at the end of 2025 and has been reported throughout 2026.
- Targeted return of non‑Senegalese nationals
- Night raids using small boats (pirogues)
- Use of unofficial crossing points along the river
Methods of expulsion
Expulsions are carried out through violent raids in various parts of Mauritania. People are detained without document checks, placed in vehicles, and taken to the border where they are released without food, water or assistance. Identity papers are often torn or confiscated, leaving individuals unable to prove nationality.
- Detention without checking documents
- One meal per day in overcrowded cells
- Torn or destroyed identity documents
Humanitarian concerns and responses
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reports increased enforcement since late 2024, raising protection concerns for refugees and asylum seekers. IOM runs a voluntary return programme that requires proof of nationality, while local NGOs in Rosso provide water and food on weekdays only. UNHCR’s hotline monitors arrests and has helped secure releases in some cases.
- UNHCR monitoring and hotline interventions
- IOM voluntary return needs proof of nationality
- Local NGOs supply water and food weekdays
Что это значит для путешественников
Планирование поездки
- Travelers planning irregular routes through Mauritania should expect heightened risk of night raids and forced return.
- Those with pending visa applications for Mauritania may face longer processing times due to increased enforcement.
- Tourists using legal entry points are unlikely to be affected, but should stay informed of local security updates.
Стоимость и документы
- Migrants report that documents are often torn during expulsions, increasing the cost of obtaining replacements.
- A Togolese woman spent about 500,000 CFA francs (≈ $850) on documents that were not checked before expulsion.
- No new fees for entry to Senegal are mentioned, but lack of documents can raise travel costs.
Что нужно сделать
- Individuals with irregular status in Mauritania should keep copies of identity papers and seek consular assistance promptly.
- People planning to cross the Mauritania‑Senegal border should verify the latest security advisories before travel.
- Humanitarian actors should monitor UNHCR and IOM updates for changes in assistance availability.
Кого это касается
-
Non‑Senegalese migrants in Mauritania
They are now targeted for return to their home countries after the 2025 policy shift.
-
Black foreign nationals from Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire
Reports indicate they are disproportionately detained and expelled.
-
Refugees and asylum seekers in Mauritania
Increased enforcement raises risk of arrest and refoulement.
-
Children caught in raids
Families with young children have been detained and separated during expulsions.
-
Families of expelled migrants
Expulsions often separate families, leaving members on opposite sides of the border.
Частые вопросы
When did Mauritania start returning non‑Senegalese migrants to their home countries?
The practice began around the end of 2025, after Senegalese authorities asked Mauritanian forces to send non‑Senegalese nationals back to their countries of origin.
Which migrants are most affected by the new expulsions?
Black foreign nationals from Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea and Côte d’Ivoire are reported to be disproportionately targeted, along with other non‑Senegalese migrants in irregular situations.
What happens to documents during these expulsions?
Many expelled people say their identity papers are torn or confiscated during raids, making it difficult to prove nationality or access consular assistance.
How are children treated during the expulsions?
Children have been detained together with adults, sometimes left unattended while mothers are taken, and later reunited by IOM staff on the Senegal side of the border.
What support is available for expelled migrants in Rosso?
Local NGOs provide water and food on weekdays, UNHCR monitors arrests and runs a hotline, and IOM offers a voluntary return programme that requires proof of nationality.
