The European Union countries and Mauritania recently signed a joint declaration on hosting refugees, ensuring their protection, and enabling them to access services. The agreement raised many concerns within Mauritania, and was widely criticized by citizens, political parties, civil society organizations, and activists on social media sites.
The Mauritanian government is linked with Spain to the so-called “Madrid Agreement” signed on July 3, 2003 regarding the interception of migrants from the shores of the economic capital, Nouadhibou.