Nouakchott: Mauritania's coast guard announced it rescued 132 irregular migrants off the country's coast. In a statement, the coast guard detailed that among those aboard the vessel, 104 were Senegalese nationals, while the remaining individuals were from Gambia. The group included 27 women and four children.

According to Anadolu Agency, the vessel had departed from Senegal's coast on November 20 and was intercepted by Mauritanian authorities early Wednesday. This rescue operation follows a mid-November incident where Mauritania's coast guard rescued 227 migrants who had left Gambia and were found off the coast of Nouadhibou in the northwest of the country.

Mauritania has become a significant transit point for African migrants, with the northern city of Nouadhibou evolving into a hub for those attempting to reach Europe. The country has established agreements with several European nations, including Spain, to address irregular migration. In recent months, authorities have intensified patrols, intercepting numerous boats carrying irregular migrants through the country's territorial waters en route to Europe.