afrol News, 25 June - At least 901 vessels carrying 35,488 illegal African migrants landed in Spain in 2006, the Senegalese Interior Minister, Ousmane Ngom, disclosed.

Mr Ngom said there has been a sharp decline this year, as only 101 vessels carrying 4,404 illegal migrants docked the Spanish coasts on 15 June. He said the migration operation deal signed by the governments of Spain and Senegal has paid dividends.

Mr Ngom delivered the statement on Friday following the signing of a joint declaration to extend the frontier operation between Senegal and Spain until 30 June 2008. The declaration is meant to beef up the clampdown on illegal migrants from entering Spain using Senegal as a gateway.

The agreement was signed by Mr Ngom and his Spanish counterpart, Alfredo Perez Rubalcalba, in the Senegalese capital, Dakar.

Mr Rubalcalba also expressed satisfaction about the success of the joint operation to combat illegal migration. He stressed the need for Dakar and Madrid to permanently share information on migration pattern.

Every year thousands of African youths embark on risky and illegal emigration journeys to Spain’s Canary Islands, in search of greener pastures. The migrants use wooden and patched boats, which is why several of them fear dead.

Some months back, the Spanish government had announced the establishment of a new agency tasked with recruiting Senegalese youths to work legally in the Spanish market. This followed the establishment of Spain’s first-ever African labour recruitment in Senegal.

Repatriation has over the months become a key subject of discussion in Senegal, with opposition politicians using it as a platform to plaster the image of the government. They accused President Abdoulaye Wade for being too “servile” with Madrid over repatriations.

A group of Senegalese women who lost their sons at sea as a result of clandestine migration formed an association. These women, who previously contributed on a weekly basis to provide boat fare for their sons, are now campaigning against illegal migration.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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