This figure represents a significant decrease compared to the 10,457 deaths recorded in the previous 12 months. However, activists caution that the reduction in fatalities does not necessarily indicate improved conditions for migrants.

Helena Maleno, research coordinator for Caminando Fronteras, attributed the drop to tighter border controls, which she said have forced migrants to take more dangerous and less monitored routes. This shift in migration patterns makes it more difficult to track and rescue those in distress.

Much of the increased border security is attributed to a 210 million euro migration deal signed between Mauritania and the European Union in 2024. This agreement aimed to bolster Mauritania's capacity to police its borders and prevent migrants from traveling onward to Spain.

While the EU views such agreements as a way to manage migration flows and reduce fatalities, critics argue that they simply displace the problem, pushing migrants into more perilous situations. The focus on border control, they contend, fails to address the root causes of migration, such as poverty, conflict, and climate change.

The Caminando Fronteras report highlights the ongoing human cost of migration policies and the challenges of balancing border security with humanitarian concerns. The organization continues to monitor migration routes and advocate for safer and more humane approaches to migration management.