Moroccan Navy Rescues 141 Migrants in Atlantic Crossing

Moroccan navy intercepted 141 migrants attempting to cross the Atlantic Ocean as migration from West Africa to Spain’s Canary Islands has increased since the start of the year.

The Moroccan Royal Armed Forces rescued all passengers on a boat off the coast of the Western Sahara, a disputed territory controlled by Morocco since 1975.

The 141 migrants were from sub-Saharan Africa and likely embarked from Mauritania, Morocco’s southern neighbor and primary departure point for migrants attempting to reach Spain’s Canary Islands. Spain’s Interior Ministry reported 11,704 migrants had arrived to the Canaries as of February 15, a sixfold increase from the previous year.