Spain announces it has contained an unprecedented wave of migration to Ceuta.

Written by Ziad Abdel Fattah:

The Spanish government announced, FridayIts success in containing an unprecedented influx of migrants into the North African city of Ceuta, after tens of thousands crossed the border by land and sea in two days.

According to the Spanish Interior Ministry, some 50,000 migrants crossed into Ceuta since Thursday morning, while approximately 48,300 of them had returned to Moroccan territory by Friday evening, either voluntarily or through expedited return procedures. Local authorities, however, estimated that the total number of crossings may have reached 60,000.

57 bodies recovered

The Spanish government representative in Ceuta revealed that 57 bodies had been recovered on the Spanish side of the border, suggesting there were likely other victims on the Moroccan side. He explained that some migrants drowned, while others were killed in a stampede as they attempted to climb the sea barriers surrounding the city.

High tension on the border

The border witnessed heightened tensions as Moroccan security forces intervened to disperse crowds using batons and tear gas in an attempt to prevent further infiltration into the Spanish enclave. A heavy deployment of riot police was also observed, along with the use of water cannons, amidst property damage including a bus and several cars that were set on fire.

Spain is strengthening its military presence.

In response, Spain reinforced its military presence on the border, with army vehicles deployed along the border areas, while dozens of migrants remained stranded on the Moroccan side, unable to cross.

Several returning migrants reported that they were unable to obtain food or shelter inside Ceuta, which prompted them to return.

One of them said that he had not eaten for a whole day despite having some money, describing the experience as “pointless.”.

Division within the European Union

Politically, the crisis has caused a rift within the European Union, with several countries calling for the situation to be contained. Italy announced the suspension of some free movement arrangements with Spain, a move Madrid considered a violation of EU treaties.

For his part, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez traveled to Ceuta, describing what happened as a “violation of territorial sovereignty,” and stressing that procedures for returning migrants would be accelerated in coordination with Morocco.

Ceuta and Melilla are the only two EU gateways in North Africa

Ceuta, along with Melilla, are the only two land border crossings into North Africa for the European Union, and they frequently witness attempts at illegal immigration, but this wave is the largest of its kind.

In the same context, international parties exchanged accusations regarding the causes of the crisis, with European political forces criticizing Spanish immigration policies, while reports pointed to the role of legal and security factors in exacerbating the influx.

Authorities on both the Spanish and Moroccan sides are continuing their efforts to re-establish control over the border and prevent a recurrence of such incidents, amid European moves to strengthen security measures on the shared border.