Mauritania’s FM says over 100 African migrant bodies found off coast since start of 2025

Since the start of this year the bodies of over 100 African migrants have been recovered from Atlantic waters off the coast of Mauritania, according to the country's Foreign Minister Mohamed Salem Ould Merzoug. He described the situation as a "human tragedy," InfoMigrants reported, which he said was caused by criminal groups involved in irregular migration and smuggling. Mauritanian has come under criticism from neighboring Mali over its handling of deportations reportedly marked by a high incidence of violence. Merzoug traveled to the Malian capital Bamako this week to ease diplomatic tensions, meeting with his Malian counterpart, Abdoulaye Diople, as well as the head of the Malian junta and the de-facto president of the country, General Assimi Goita to discuss "the concerted management of migratory flows," according to the Malian presidency.