Calm has returned to the border between Ceuta and Morocco following the recent surge of irregular arrivals. According to Spanish authorities, the majority of the at least 60,000 individuals who crossed into the territory on Thursday have already returned. There is still a sporadic but steady stream of people heading back. Most of those returning tell us they entered Spain after receiving social media messages claiming the border was open and that no documentation was required.
Despite the stabilization, the mood within the city remains volatile. Fear has largely been replaced by indignation, as residents demand urgent explanations for the crisis. The social atmosphere is increasingly tense, fueling intense political debate. While he was reluctant to attribute blame, some residents were more outspoken. Alluding to the initial legal difficulty of sending the migrants back immediately because they came via the sea, a middle-aged man called PM Pedro Sanchez an "accomplice", adding: "this is a disgrace— for me, a disgrace. This has never happened before in my life."
Amid the anger, some Ceutanos do point to a humanitarian duty in connection with the crisis. A 78-year-old pensioner argued that common sense dictates that children arriving at the border should be provided with food and drink, stating that all of Spain should stand with those in need. However, he also expressed strong condemnation for the overall handling of the situation.
The political fallout reached the city as Santiago Abascal, leader of the Vox party, visited Ceuta today. Abascal directed his criticism at the government in Rabat and specifically at Pedro Sánchez, accusing the Spanish prime minister of being "subservient" to the African nation. He argued that Morocco acted in the belief that Spain would offer no response or reprisals due to the current government's perceived lack of strength.
Meanwhile, in the city, fear has given way to indignation. Virtually everyone I have spoken to cannot fathom how this situation could have happened and is demanding urgent explanations. It is a tense social atmosphere that is fuelling political debate.
"I got the feeling that people are very, very angry. I know they’re very angry right now. There are 85,000 of us here, and 60,000 are coming in. So, tell me. What do we do? What are we going to do? We can’t even buy bread. There was no bread. There was nothing. Nothing, nothing. Everything was closed."
