Moroccan Navy Saves 141 Migrants in Atlantic Rescue Operation

The Moroccan navy conducted a rescue operation off the Atlantic coast on Sunday, saving 141 migrants from a precarious vessel, according to the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces. The operation, reported by the official MAP news agency, took 15 hours amid challenging weather conditions. The rescued, including 136 men, three women, and two minors, hailed from sub-Saharan African countries, aiming for the Canary Islands from the Mauritanian coast since February 10. Found approximately 274 km (170 miles) from Dakhla port, the migrants had issued a distress signal, prompting the intervention by Moroccan authorities. Following their rescue, the individuals received necessary care before being transferred to the Royal Gendarmerie for standard administrative procedures. This incident underscores Morocco’s ongoing efforts to manage undocumented migration, with about 87,000 arrests in 2023 alone, primarily involving sub-Saharan Africans.