Organizing a Seminar on Migration … Opportunities and Challenges
Nouakchott
The Research Office (SISTA), in partnership with the Organization for African Statistical Studies (OAS), organized on Saturday in Nouakchott a seminar entitled: “Migration in Mauritania: Economic Opportunities or Multiple Threats“.
Dr. Sheikh Saad Bouh Camara gave a lecture during the meeting, during which he gave a presentation on the phenomenon of migration in general, the causes and motives, and the situation of migrants in the country, whether they are residents or transit.
He pointed out that the data of the International Organization for Migration for the year 2023 indicate that about 80% of African migrations occur within the continent and in West African countries, especially from the Sahel region, as a result of economic considerations due to the deterioration of economic conditions and the spread of sectarian, ethnic and religious wars, in addition to the negative effects of climate change.
He explained that Africa is a transit point for migration to Europe and the Middle East, where migration routes pass through North and West African countries, in addition to the adoption of smugglers new and multiple migration routes, pointing out that these conditions necessitate the need for vigilance and rigor in the enactment of laws.
In the same context, he said that Mauritania occupies a strategic location as it is located between North Africa and sub–Saharan Africa, which made it a transit country and destination for many migrants, noting that it hosts about 75,000 migrants, mostly from West Africa and the Sahel region, according to data from the International Organization for Migration for the year 2023.
He added that official statements indicated in early 2025 that there are more than 500,000 migrants in the country, most of them in an irregular situation, noting that the number of migrants has increased in two years to more than sixfold, which is of great concern to Mauritanians.
He said that World Bank data for 2023 indicated that migrants represent about 9% of the labor force in Mauritania, and they work mainly in the agriculture, fishing and unclassified sectors.
Mauritanian migrants abroad are mainly in France, Spain and the Gulf states, he said, noting that their remittances accounted for 8% of GDP in 2022, according to the Central Bank of Mauritania.
In a speech earlier, the Director General of the SISTA Studies Office, Mr. Abdallah Ahmed Vall, referred to the importance of statistical data and opinion polls in decision–making, highlighting their importance for experts, academics, researchers and the general public.
The proceedings of the meeting took place in the presence of experts, consultants, journalists, representatives of civil society organizations and a number of student researchers.