Up to the end of July, migrant arrivals in the Balearics increased by close to 15% compared with the first seven months of 2024, while they fell by 46% in the Canaries.
Figures from Spain's interior ministry indicate that the routes to the Canaries were still responsible for more migrant arrivals than those on the mainland and in the Balearics - a total of 11,575. Nevertheless, the 46% decrease is attributed to EU funding of border controls in countries such as Mauritania and Morocco and aid to these countries designed to discourage migration to Europe.
But it is believed that this is shifting the focus to Algeria and therefore to the Mediterranean routes, which include the Balearics. From January and July, 7,064 migrants arrived on either the mainland or the islands. For roughly a half - 3,416 - the Balearics were the destination.
The Caminando Fronteras NGO has calculated that some 40% of migrants on small boats from Algeria are from sub-Saharan Africa, Somalia in particular. Until quite recently, people arriving in the Balearics were predominantly Algerian. The routes have expanded, Caminando Fronteras saying there have been migrants from Syria, Palestine and Yemen and as far away as Bangladesh.
The NGO points to the increased number of bodies of migrants and to "the lack of early activation of rescue resources in response to alerts" on the Mediterranean route. "Added to this is weak collaboration with Algeria and a lack of joint protocols." Caminando Fronteras believe there have been "numerous cases" of disappearances that have not been accounted for.
A complication has been the relationship between Spain and Algeria. In March 2022, Spain recognised Morocco's right to sovereignty over Western Sahara. This ultimately led to Algeria suspending diplomatic and trade relations. Since February this year there has been an improvement in these relations. When President Marga Prohens met Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in Palma last week, she impressed upon him the need for working on this relationship in order to try and stem the flow of migrants from Algeria.