Mauritania says tougher border controls are sharply reducing migrant departures to Europe from its Atlantic coast. But for many West Africans stranded in the country, the dream of reaching Europe remains as strong as ever. AFP's report from Nouadhibou examines the impact of the crackdown and the frustrations driving migration.
Nouadhibou, a fishing city on Mauritania's Atlantic coast, has long been one of West Africa's main departure points for migrants hoping to reach Spain's Canary Islands.
Thousands of migrants from Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea and beyond have passed through the city, often working for months to save enough money for a dangerous sea crossing aboard overcrowded wooden pirogues.
But over the past year, Mauritanian authorities have intensified patrols, strengthened coastal surveillance and arrested suspected smuggling networks as part of a migration management partnership backed by the European Union.
Officials say the measures are having a clear impact.
