Moroccan authorities apprehended over 100 individuals on Saturday as they attempted to enter Ceuta, a Spanish enclave in North Africa, amid heightened security measures following social media calls for mass migrant crossings. The incident occurred two weeks after a massive influx of over 72,000 migrants entered Ceuta, leading to tensions within the European Union and fueling anti-immigration sentiments globally. Tragically, at least 96 people lost their lives during the attempt to reach European territory.
A source from Morocco’s Interior Ministry disclosed to Reuters that among those detained were 109 migrants from sub-Saharan Africa and two Moroccan citizens apprehended in or near Fnideq, the Moroccan city opposite Ceuta. Reports from the Spanish news agency EFE indicated that Moroccan police utilized tear gas to disperse migrant groups gathered on hills close to the border. Additionally, Moroccan authorities instructed journalists to leave Fnideq without providing a reason.
In Ceuta, Spanish military personnel safeguarded supermarkets while police maintained a strong presence on the enclave’s main streets. The city appeared calmer compared to the days immediately following the July 30 crossing attempt. Madrid responded by setting up a maritime barrier and deploying over 500 additional police officers from mainland Spain, boosting the total security presence in Ceuta to more than 1,600, with plans to sustain these reinforcements as necessary.
Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska emphasized the commitment to restore normalcy and prevent future incidents similar to the July 30 events. Approximately 5,000 migrants were still in Ceuta, with many seeking shelter on El Trampolin beach. Grande-Marlaska clarified that irregular migrants would not be permitted to stay in Ceuta, travel to mainland Spain, or obtain legal status, except in exceptional cases of extreme vulnerability, with the rest facing deportation to Morocco.
Recent reports highlighted enhanced security measures near the border, including police vans equipped with wire shields and road checkpoints. Authorities thwarted several groups from boarding transportation to northern Morocco, while some sub-Saharan African migrants managed to bypass security checkpoints by taking mountain routes towards Fnideq. Witness accounts indicated that schools in Fnideq had been repurposed as accommodation for security forces stationed near the border.
Young individuals who entered Ceuta on July 30 were observed engaging in everyday activities at Tarajal beach, with Driss Sadik, who swam for hours to reach Ceuta, cautioning against further attempts, urging others not to suffer the same fate. The sentiments were echoed by Adil Jamil, emphasizing the futility of unauthorized crossings and the need for a sustainable solution. Jamil noted that coordinated mass crossings were premeditated events designed to leverage collective strength and resolve.