• Human Rights Watch reports extensive abuses against migrants in Mauritania.
• Violations include torture, rape, and collective expulsions intensified by EU funding.
• The report urges the EU to prioritize human rights in its partnership with Mauritania.
• Mauritania has become a key transit hub for migrants attempting to reach Europe.
• The Mauritanian government claims reforms are underway to protect migrant rights.

A recent investigation by Human Rights Watch (HRW) has documented severe violations of human rights against migrants in Mauritania, highlighting systemic abuses, including torture, rape, arbitrary detentions, and collective expulsions, which were reportedly intensified by European Union (EU) and Spanish funding intended to bolster migration control. The report titled “'They Accused Me of Trying to Go to Europe'” provides an in-depth look at the human rights abuses perpetrated by Mauritanian security forces from 2020 to 2025, particularly aimed at migrants from West and Central Africa, as they attempt to transit through Mauritania en route to Europe, especially Spain’s Canary Islands, according to Africanews and Middle East Eye.

The HRW report, based on interviews with 223 individuals, documents a pattern of abuse, including inhumane detention conditions and the mistreatment of migrants, which humane rights experts characterize as an “abusive migration control playbook” that Mauritanian authorities have employed against African migrants. Lauren Seibert, a researcher at HRW, noted that while Mauritania's ongoing abuses mirror patterns observed throughout North Africa, recent governmental reforms indicate the potential for improved conditions for migrants if further safeguards are enacted. This report details that these abuses have been exacerbated by a €210 million partnership established in 2024 between Mauritania and the EU aimed at curbing irregular migration, according to AllAfrica and AllAfrica.

During the investigation, HRW documented the forced expulsion of tens of thousands of migrants without due process, with over 28,000 expulsions occurring in the first half of 2025 alone, often placing deported individuals in dangerous conditions upon their return. One notable case included a Liberian migrant, Marco Gibson, who described being brutally beaten by soldiers before being expelled back to Mali, which faced increased violence from armed groups. Testimonies collected from migrants revealed a terrifying reality of arbitrary arrests, extortion, and severe mistreatment at the hands of law enforcement, representing a direct violation of their rights, according to Africanews and Middle East Eye.

The Mauritanian government has denied systematic violations, claiming recent reforms, including a ban on collective expulsions, align with humanitarian principles, though critics argue these measures lack sufficient implementation. While some reforms have been acknowledged as potentially positive steps by HRW, the continued complicity of the EU and Spain in funding abusive measures against migrants has raised substantial concerns regarding accountability. The report emphasizes the imperative for international actors to prioritize human rights and humanitarian considerations over security efforts that lead to widespread abuse, according to AllAfrica and AllAfrica.