The political and social instability that Senegal and Mali are going through, to which will be added the consequences of the coup d'état in Niger and later the earthquake in Morocco, anticipate a "worrying" autumn on the Canary Islands migratory route, according to all the experts. consulted. In the first half of September, 2,920 people arrived on the islands, which represents 20% of all arrivals to the Canary coasts so far this year. And the worst, predictably, is yet to come since navigability will improve with the end of summer.
This immigration drama is causing the first confrontations between the new autonomous government of the Canary Coalition and the Popular Party with the central Executive. The first calls for more resources to deal with the increase in arrivals of boats and canoes and a “single command” that serves to unite dialogue between all six ministries that have jurisdiction in this matter: Foreign Affairs, Interior, Social Security, Social Policies, Defense and Transportation. The second is defended by arguing that the mechanism is “more than prepared” after years working with countries of origin and transit to stop departures and strengthening the capacity of the reception system. For this reason, the central Executive accuses the regional government of being “disloyal” for wanting to generate “social alarm.”
The truth is that the “single command” demanded by the President of the Government of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, is already operational. The first time this figure was used was in 2006 with the famous cayucos crisis. That year, with José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero in Moncloa, more than 30,000 people arrived from the African continent. It was then that the Coordination Authority for actions to address illegal immigration in the Canary Islands was created. In 2020, with Fernando Grande-Marlaska at the head of the Ministry of the Interior, Major General Juan Luis Pérez Martín was appointed as the Coordinating Authority.
Since that appointment, this single command has held 19 technical coordination meetings. The last one, according to ministerial sources, on July 12, 2023. And in addition to institutions such as the National Police, the Civil Guard or the three armies, the Government of the Canary Islands also participates through 112. Hence, the disbelief with which Moncloa is experiencing the Canarian Government's efforts. This week, Clavijo has asked King Felipe VI for sole command.
Ministerial sources tell La Vanguardia that the central government has offered the regional government one more seat on the coordination radar. A position for the Canary Islands police, which is not participating for now. Additionally, the frequency with which this single command meets will be increased during the fall months. In return, Moncloa hopes that Clavijo will go “from words to actions” to jointly confront the migration crisis. For this reason, the Interior has demanded the transfer of facilities in La Restinga (El Hierro) so that the National Police can disembark there for the first time on the island.
The building placed on the Interior radar is a Visitor Center that belongs to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries. Police sources explain that it is proven that this demarcation of the island is the point where almost all of the Senegalese cayucos arrive, so this enclave would have "a clear deterrent nature." The Government expects this transfer, which it sees as a litmus test to verify “the real will” of the island Executive.
