Mariano Rajoy thanks military personnel deployed in Senegal for their work in fight against terrorism and illegal immigration

Dakar (Senegal)

Mariano Rajoy started the day by meeting with the President of Senegal, Macky Sall, with whom he tackled relations between Spain and Senegal and their collaboration in the fight against terrorism, drug trafficking and illegal immigration. The two leaders had previously met at Moncloa Palace on 15 December 2014, and in New York on 25 September 2012 during the course of the United Nations General Assembly.

The President of the Government continued by visiting two Guardia Civil patrol vessels with fifteen personnel entrusted with the mission, together with Senegalese forces, of monitoring the coast and avoiding the embarkation of small vessels to the Canary Islands.

Mariano Rajoy also visited the Navy vessel "Vencedora", moored at Dakar naval base, entrusted with maritime security against threats such as illegal fishing, terrorist movements and piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.

Pool MoncloaThe President of the Government then travelled to visit the Air Force detachment "Marfil", comprised of some 50 military personnel providing support for the mission in Mali with one plane used for transporting both troops and material to Senegal, Chad and Mali. Since the start of its deployment in January 2013, the Spanish detachment has made more than 700 flights with close on 2,000 flight hours, transporting more than 1,000 tonnes of material and some 5,000 passengers.

After visiting the various forces deployed in Dakar, Mariano Rajoy acknowledged their work in the region. "It is good for us in Spain to be aware of what Spaniards such as yourselves do. The Navy, the Army, the Air Force, the National Police Force and the Guardia Civil are all present in Senegal and in Mali, working on such important issues as the fight against people trafficking mafias, the fight against terrorism and the fight against drug trafficking".

The President of the Government added that Spain "is a country that has traditionally made a major effort on the issue of cooperation", and considers that it is "our obligation" to continue in the medium and long term to help many other countries come out of the situation they currently find themselves in".

"A country primarily needs stability and security, then everything else will follow. If there is no stability or security, it is very difficult for other things to follow", he added.

Furthermore, Mariano Rajoy highlighted that the extraordinary European Council held on 23 April acknowledged that the work being done by Spain in the fight against illegal immigration is "an example to follow".