A surge of migrants swimming from Morocco to the Spanish enclave of Ceuta has overwhelmed local border security and reception infrastructure. Juan Jesús Vivas, the leader of Ceuta’s government, informed journalists on Wednesday that more than 1,500 individuals, including both adults and minors, have successfully reached the territory by sea over the past few days. Vivas noted that the local reception centers are currently collapsed and saturated, with hundreds of people forced to sleep outdoors due to the lack of capacity.
The maritime crossing has proven perilous; Vivas reported that 60 bodies have been spotted at sea within the last year, highlighting the dangers faced by those attempting the journey. Spanish authorities, including the Civil Guard, the Maritime Rescue Service, and the Red Cross, have been actively utilizing boats to rescue migrants from the water before transporting them to the enclave.
Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska characterized the event as an "extraordinary, exceptional situation" during an interview with the television channel laSexta. He maintained that the government is managing the influx using existing, permanently deployed resources. Furthermore, the minister praised Moroccan authorities for their cooperation and commitment to limiting irregular departures, describing the relationship between the two nations as close and loyal.
Activists in the region report that the migrants are primarily Moroccans, alongside a smaller number of Algerians who had been residing in Morocco. While the exact trigger for the sudden increase remains unclear, political tensions persist. Vivas expressed criticism regarding a recent Spanish Supreme Court ruling that prevents the immediate return of migrants arriving by sea without due process. However, Omar Naji of the Moroccan Association of Human Rights in Eastern Morocco questioned the link, suggesting that many migrants may be unaware of the legal decision. Naji instead drew parallels to the May 2021 border crisis, noting that the timing coincided with recent diplomatic meetings between Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune.
