Mauritania's security forces have been systematically abusing migrants from other African countries, a report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) says. The violations have been exacerbated by a deal with the European Union (EU) and Spain, which aims to curb dangerous sea crossings to the Canary Islands, the rights group alleges.

Mauritania’s role as a key transit hub for African migrants seeking passage to Europe has come into sharp focus, following renewed claims by the NGO Human Rights Watch of abuse by its security forces.

Article updated with the European Commission's reply Human rights abuses of asylum seekers in Mauritania have been exacerbated by the European Union and Spain, which are “continuing to outsource migration management” to the West African country,