West African Arrivals to Europe Drop 59 Per Cent as Routes Turn Deadlier, New IOM Data

Geneva/Dakar, 13 October 2026 – Fewer people from West Africa are reaching Europe by sea, but the journey has not become safer. Arrivals from four major West African countries of origin fell by 59 per cent in the first half of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025, according to new data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM). However, the factors that drive migration remain, and dangerous journeys continue across multiple routes. “Fewer arrivals in one place doesn’t mean the pressures have gone away,” said IOM Director General Amy Pope. “They often just shift to other routes. That’s why we need to look at the whole journey, from where people leave to where they arrive.” A total of 4,566 people from Mali, Senegal, Guinea and The Gambia were registered arriving in Europe by sea during the first six months of 2026. The West African Atlantic Route (WAAR) remained the principal route, with West African nationals accounting for 83 per cent of arrivals registered in Jan-June 2026. This is followed by the Western Mediterranean Route (WMR) with 21.9 per cent (up from 15.6 per cent in 2025) and the Central Mediterranean Route (CMR), with 10.5 per cent (up from 8.6 per cent in 2025). While absolute figures on arrivals are down, the increase in proportion of West African nationals across Mediterranean routes, points to a shifting migration landscape, underscoring the need to monitor developments across routes. The decline comes amid ongoing joint efforts by countries of origin, transit and destination to strengthen migration governance and institutional capacity, expand protection and reintegration support, and deepen bilateral and regional cooperation. However, the decline in arrivals presents only one side of the picture. Data on departures and interceptions indicate that people continue to attempt these journeys, underscoring that the drivers of irregular migration persist across routes, and that sustained action is key to reducing risks, expanding oppo