A new Human Rights Watch (HRW) report has accused Mauritanian security forces of carrying out years of torture, rape, and mass expulsions of African migrants abuses that it says were fueled by European Union and Spanish migration funding.
The 142-page investigation, titled “They Accused Me of Trying to Go to Europe,” documents widespread violations committed between 2020 and early 2025. HRW says police, coast guards, and the army routinely detained migrants in harsh conditions, extorted them, carried out sexual violence, and expelled them without due process.
The crackdown, according to HRW, intensified after Mauritania signed a €210 million deal with the EU in 2024 to curb irregular migration, alongside additional bilateral support from Spain. Researchers argue that by outsourcing border enforcement without safeguards, the EU and Spain share responsibility for the abuses.
One Liberian migrant, Marco Gibson, told investigators he was whipped and beaten by soldiers before being dumped in Mali with children. HRW estimates that over 28,000 migrants were expelled in the first half of 2025 alone.
Mauritania has denied systematic violations but pointed to new reforms, including a ban on collective expulsions and migrant protection procedures introduced in May 2025. The EU says its partnership is “anchored in respect for rights,” while HRW acknowledged the reforms as important first steps.
“By taking further steps to eliminate abuses, Mauritania could set a precedent for rights-respecting migration management,” said HRW researcher Lauren Seibert, urging the EU and Spain to prioritize human rights over purely security-focused measures.
