Mauritania: the second phase of the Joint Operational Programme (POC II) to combat the smuggling of migrants and human trafficking gets underway

The second phase of this cooperation programme between the European Union and Mauritania, led by Spain, is now underway, with three key objectives: strengthening Mauritania's operational capabilities to combat trafficking and smuggling networks; improving coordination within the criminal justice system (judicial and police); and supporting coordination between institutions.

The aim is thus to strengthen Mauritania's framework for combating human trafficking and smuggling through, amongst other measures, improving capabilities for detecting document fraud, supporting the capabilities of the public prosecutor's office responsible for this area, and establishing coordination mechanisms between the various institutions involved in tackling human trafficking and smuggling, as well as enhancing regional cooperation (judicial and police institutions, international protection agencies, humanitarian organisations and civil society). Improving the coordination of the institutional response and the protection of victims will include activities to support the Mauritanian National Human Rights Commission.

The entire project adopts a human rights and gender equality approach, with specific measures incorporated into all its activities.

The launch took place on Monday 29 June in Nouakchott, attended by Mauritanian officials and the European Union's ambassador to the country.

Results from the previous phase

During the previous phase of the project (December 2021-October 2025), police and judicial investigative capacities were substantially improved through training in investigative and seizure techniques, information sources, border control, document verification and the detection of document fraud, and criminal investigation capacities were strengthened. Support was also provided for coordination between the various actors involved in combating networks involved in the illicit trafficking of migrants in Nouakchott and Nouadhibou (coastguard, gendarmerie and wali or regional governors).

As part of the project, two Temporary Reception Centres for Foreign Nationals were also refurbished and equipped to enable coordinated management by the police, protection agencies and humanitarian organisations of people arriving by sea in Mauritanian waters.

Since January, around 2,000 people have passed through these centres, which have been refurbished in line with European asylum standards. Here, over a maximum period of 72 hours, they are interviewed to determine whether they are victims of trafficking, vulnerable individuals or applicants for international protection, and are then referred to the relevant authorities. Their operation is modelled on the temporary reception centres for foreign nationals in the Canary Islands. There, people are assisted by the Red Crescent and the Committee for Combating Migrant Smuggling and Human Trafficking, with the support of the IOM, UNHCR and the Mauritanian National Human Rights Commission (CNDH).

In addition to the ambassadors of the European Union and Spain, the launch event was attended by representatives of the Mauritanian police, its Directorate of Territorial Administration, the National Office for Combating Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants, the Commissioner for Human Rights, Humanitarian Action and Relations with Civil Society, the IOM and UNHCR.

The new project will run until June 2028.