Spanish Prime Minister visits Mauritania amid migration crisis

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez headed on a three-day visit to West Africa on Tuesday, as his government grapples with a major upsurge in migrant arrivals. Nearly every day, Spain's coastguard rescues a boat carrying dozens of African migrants towards the Canary islands off the northwest coast of Africa.

The islands' government has pleaded for more help. The Canary Islands and Spain tend to be a stopping point for West African migrants who head for France and other European countries. Sanchez's tour will take him to Mauritania, Gambia and Senegal, three key countries in the migration crisis.