Thousands of Migrants Breach Ceuta Territory from Morocco, Local Government Requests Emergency Status
Thousands of migrants have reportedly entered the territory of Ceuta, located in North Africa, from Morocco. The wave of arrivals has overwhelmed the Guardia Civil authorities tasked with securing the border.
According to Reuters, migrants entered via sea routes at the Tarajal breakwater area. Video footage shows numerous migrants swimming from Moroccan territory using inner tubes and other flotation devices. Others were seen breaching border fence gates before running towards the Ceuta territory.
A spokesperson for the Guardia Civil stated that migrants entered “en masse from the sea” through Tarajal, though the exact number of individuals who successfully crossed could not be confirmed. Meanwhile, Spanish state television, TVE, reported that approximately 2,000 to 3,000 migrants had entered Ceuta, though Reuters noted this figure has not been independently verified.
This event recalls the migration crisis of May 2021, when around 10,000 people from Morocco and sub-Saharan African nations entered Ceuta within just a few days. Ceuta and Melilla are two Spanish autonomous cities in North Africa and serve as the only land borders between the European Union and Africa. Both territories are frequent destinations for migrants attempting to reach Europe.
In circulating footage, some migrants can be heard shouting “Long live Spain!” after successfully entering the territory.
Local Government Requests Emergency Status
The wave of arrivals has triggered a political response in Spain. The regional government of Ceuta is urging the central government in Madrid to declare an emergency status. The leader of Ceuta, Juan Jesus Vitas, also requested via the social media platform X that the central government deploy the military to assist in security and temporarily close the border with Morocco.
On the other hand, the People’s Party (PP), the main opposition to the government, has criticised the handling of the situation. PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo stated that the government must not ignore the conditions in Ceuta, as it has evolved into a national security issue. “The situation in Ceuta is very critical. The government cannot turn away… because we are facing a national security crisis,” he said.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s administration has been known for its relatively open policies towards migrants. The government recently launched a legalisation programme for approximately 500,000 undocumented migrants. This policy has drawn criticism from right-wing parties, who argue that such steps have the potential to encourage more migrants to arrive in Spain.