The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mauritania, Mohamed Salem Merzoug, has claimed this Friday before the United Nations General Assembly a coordinated global action, based on "shared responsibility," to address the management of migratory flows worldwide.
In his speech, the head of Mauritanian diplomacy emphasized that migration largely responds to the "search for employment and development opportunities," which is why he has called to address this phenomenon "without stridency," with a pragmatic and humanitarian perspective, assuming that it is at the "center of this common challenge."
"We need a response to this challenge with collaboration between the countries of origin, transit, and destination. It is important that responsibilities are shared and that the real causes of irregular migration are addressed, while combating human trafficking," Merzoug asserted before the plenary.
The Foreign Affairs official has insisted that any policy aimed at curbing irregular migration must prioritize the safeguarding of the dignity and fundamental rights of migrant people, emphasizing that sustainable management will only be possible through international solidarity and the promotion of socioeconomic development in the areas of origin.
In recent weeks, Mauritanian authorities, whose country is one of the main departure points of the Atlantic route, have reported the interception of several vessels with hundreds of migrants on board, in a context of increased departures in recent years, with the Canary Islands as a priority destination.
According to data published by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), around 6,800 people have lost their lives or are reported missing since 2014 on this Atlantic route, a figure only surpassed by that recorded in the Sahara Desert, where more than 7,150 dead and missing have been documented.