Spain runs ads in Senegal to scare off boat migrants

"Don't risk your life for nothing. You are the future of Africa," singer Youssou N'Dour tells the camera, sitting alone at night on a beached boat in one of a series of ads funded by the government of Spain, whose prosperity has lured Senegalese and other Africans desperate to escape poverty.

Earlier this month, a migrant boat capsized just yards off the craggy coast of the Canaries. Six people survived; 10 others drowned. So far this year, 7,000 more have made it. Nobody knows how many have died trying; the boats and bodies of the unsuccessful are usually lost at sea. In 2006, 31,000 Senegalese reached Spain's Canary Islands on fragile wooden boats, braving 10-days at sea and possible dehydration, starvation and death.

Spain runs ads in Senegal to scare off boat migrants

Add our updates to My Yahoo!, Bloglines, Feedster, Google Reader or More options ...