Moroccan Authorities Block Mass Migration Attempt into Spain
Moroccan immigration authorities thwarted a mass migration attempt into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta on Sunday, detaining dozens of would-be migrants looking to enter the European Union.
Videos shared with local media outlets captured the incident, in which a large group of migrants, mostly Moroccan youths and a smaller number of sub-Saharan Africans, gathered on a hill in the border town of Fnideq, threw stones at Moroccan security forces, and then attempted to storm the border fence.
However, the local authorities’ quick response prevented the attempted crossing, and they say they have arrested at least 60 people over the past week for encouraging mass crossings on social media.
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Local human rights activist Mohammed Ben Aissad said there has been a heavy police presence in Fnideq since Friday, describing it as “the heaviest security deployment ever.”
Ceuta, as well as Spain’s Melilla enclave, are the only direct land borders Africa shares with the European Union. Both areas are hotspots for attempted illegal migration into Europe, and a recent crackdown has seen many migrants bused away from the region.
In 2022, Madrid and Rabat resolved a longstanding political dispute and have since strengthened bilateral cooperation on preventing illegal migration.
In the first eight months of this year, Morocco intercepted 45,015 individuals attempting to migrate to Europe, according to the country’s interior ministry.
