Ceuta: Moroccan security forces displayed “total permissiveness” during the unprecedented migrant rush into Spain’s North African territory of Ceuta in July, according to a Spanish police report seen by AFP on Wednesday. The report highlighted a significantly reduced police presence at the border, with migrants noting a “passive attitude” from Moroccan officers as tens of thousands crossed into Ceuta.
According to France24.com, thousands took to the streets on Wednesday to protest the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Ceuta, demanding solutions and holding Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez responsible for his government’s handling of the situation. Protesters waved Spanish flags, shouting “A united Ceuta will never be defeated,” and “Invaders – go home!” in reference to the thousands of migrants still present in the city.
Last month, about 72,000 people surged into the small Spanish territory adjoining Morocco, with at least 90 perishing in the attempt to reach Europe. While most migrants quickly returned or were sent back across the border, approximately 5,000, including 1,200 minors, remain in Ceuta weeks later. The national government has suggested that the mass crossing was incited by an online campaign on social media.
The sudden influx into Ceuta, wh has a population of about 84,000, placed immense pressure on resources and angered many residents. Local authorities accused Spain’s central government of ignoring warning signs before the border was breached. Ceuta’s regional leader, Juan Jesús Vivas, stated, “What happened to us was not a migratory crisis. What happened was the violation of Spain’s territorial integrity.”
Vivas, a member of Spain’s conservative Popular Party, along with the far-right Vox party, has used the Ceuta crisis as a focal point in a political effort to challenge the left-wing government in Madrid. The organizer of Wednesday’s protests in Madrid and over 200 other towns is the officially nonpartisan Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces. However, the protests have been endorsed by PP and Vox, both of which strongly oppose irregular migration.