According to preliminary data released by the agency Frontex on October 19, 2026, the West Africa migration route recorded a significant 45% decrease in border crossings during the first three quarters of the year. This notable decline marks a change in dynamics on the Atlantic route, often taken by candidates for exile. The European agency attributes this retreat to a concerted strategy. Increased cooperation between Mauritania, Senegal, The Gambia, Spain, and the European Union has allowed for the tightening of surveillance and control measures. This strengthened partnership appears to be bearing fruit by making the organization of illegal departures from the West African coasts more complex. While these statistics illustrate increased operational efficiency on the ground, the question of the sustainability of this trend remains. As authorities welcome this slowdown, analysts are now scrutinizing the long-term impact of these measures and the persistence of smuggling networks in the face of this reinforced security apparatus. The evolution of these figures in the coming months will be decisive in confirming whether this drop in departures constitutes a lasting trend or a mere cyclical fluctuation.