Hundreds of Illegal Migrants Again Attempt to Breach Spain's Ceuta Enclave
Hundreds of illegal migrants have again attempted to breach Ceuta, Spain’s exclave in North Africa. Moroccan authorities were reported to have intercepted the illegal migrants trying to enter Ceuta.
According to the BBC on Sunday (16/8/2026), Moroccan security sources cited by Spanish media and the Reuters news agency reported that more than 100 people were stopped while trying to reach the border on the outskirts of the town of Fnideq.
The incident occurred two weeks after around 78,000 migrants arrived in the exclave by sea within a matter of hours. That event resulted in 100 deaths.
Most of the arrivals have since returned to Morocco. Security in the area was subsequently tightened following the surge in illegal migrant arrivals and indications of plans for a second mass crossing attempt this weekend circulating on social media.
Security sources said 111 people had been detained in or around Fnideq, known in Spanish as Castillejos, which lies about 3 km from the border. Most of them came from sub-Saharan Africa.
Moroccan police, including officers equipped with anti-riot gear, were reported to have used tear gas to disperse groups of migrants gathered in the surrounding hills. Earlier this week, the Moroccan government said it was monitoring ‘the circulation of social media posts and messages from unknown sources’ calling for a mass crossing on Saturday (15/8) and warned that it would take legal action against both organisers and participants.
Security at the breakwater entrance was reported to be ten times stricter than the previous day. Morocco also deployed army personnel, fast naval vessels and drones to the border.
Meanwhile, Madrid deployed more than 1,500 security personnel to patrol the area. Spain has also installed metal fencing and floating barriers following last month’s surge in migrant arrivals.
The situation had calmed after the crisis erupted in late July, but it has triggered tensions among European Union countries that apply open border policies and drawn criticism of the Spanish government. Italy suspended the application of Schengen free movement rules with Spain and imposed border checks on arrivals from Spain.
Italy’s move was supported by Finland and Denmark, while the Czech Republic called for Spain’s temporary suspension from the Schengen area. Spain reacted angrily to the stance taken by several European countries.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez stressed that Ceuta is not part of the Schengen area. He insisted that the illegal migrants did not enter mainland Spain and could not travel to other European countries.