Human Rights Watch Accuses Mauritania of Migrant Rights Violations

Human Rights Watch Accuses Mauritania of Migrant Rights Violations
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Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused Mauritanian security forces of committing serious human rights violations against migrants and asylum seekers over the past five years. In a 142-page report released Wednesday, the organization documented abuses including torture, rape, arbitrary detention, and inhumane treatment. The report highlights that most victims were migrants from West and Central Africa attempting to transit through or leave Mauritania.

Mauritania has become a major departure point for irregular migrants heading toward Europe via the dangerous Atlantic route, particularly to Spain’s Canary Islands. HRW criticized the European Union and Spain for reinforcing migration control efforts in Mauritania, including by supporting border and immigration authorities, despite ongoing abuses.

The report details violations by various Mauritanian security agencies, including police, coast guard, navy, and gendarmerie, between 2020 and early 2025. Lauren Seibert, HRW’s refugee and migrant rights researcher, stated that Mauritania’s approach mirrors wider North African patterns of abusive migration control.

While the Mauritanian government rejected many of the report’s claims, HRW acknowledged that recent government steps may improve migrant protections. The organization urged the EU and Spain to ensure human rights are prioritized in their migration partnerships with Mauritania, where thousands have died attempting the sea journey to Europe.