West and Central Africa — Irregular Migration Routes to Europe: Movements to the Canary Islands (January — November 2020)

This document highlights the resumption of migration from the coasts of West Africa to Spain’s Canary Islands since 2018. While this route was active in the past, notably in 2006, a growing number of migrants have been taking this route. With a very low success rate, few manage to reach the Canary Islands. Between January and November 2020, 16,760 individuals reached the Canary Islands irregularly after crossing by boat from the coasts of West Africa (Western African Maritime Route). This represents a 1,019 per cent increase in arrivals when compared to the same period in 2019.