From the Mauritanian coast, Ahmed, a Senegalese man, looks toward?Europe, the place he dreams of being but fears he will never reach due to heightened security against migrants in the west African country.

¡°Everyone wants to leave,¡± said the 34-year-old, who keeps a low profile in Mauritania to evade constant police checks.

But ¡°since security was stepped up, no one can get through,¡°?added Ahmed, whose name has been changed for security purposes.