In recent days, Ceuta has witnessed the arrival of hundreds of migrants swimming across the strait, prompting what has been officially recognized as a state of emergency by the city’s autonomous government. The Centro de Estancia Temporal de Inmigrantes (CETI) is overwhelmed, with many individuals resorting to sleeping outside its premises while they await available accommodations. This pressing issue was discussed on the COPE radio program 'La Linterna', broadcast from Ceuta, which is part of the Grupo Faro network.
Although the current situation does not mirror the scale of the migrant crisis experienced five years ago, the flow of arrivals shows no signs of abating. Ibón Domínguez, the national secretary of the Jupol union, shared insights on COPE, highlighting that while the influx is steady, 'the autonomous city of Ceuta is not equipped to handle this surge,' noting that more than 1,000 individuals have arrived in just one week.
An Unstoppable Strategy
Carlos Echeverría, the director of the Ceuta and Melilla Observatory and a professor of International Relations at UNED, analyzed this phenomenon in an interview on 'La Linterna'. He argues that the situation does not represent a predictable summer uptick but rather an 'unstoppable trickle strategy,' with over 2,500 arrivals documented in the first five months of the year alone, indicating a troubling downward trend.
Echeverría criticized the 'complacent attitude' of Spanish authorities, asserting that 'Morocco is a state that can control its territory when it chooses to do so.' He cited the fortification of areas such as Rincón and Tetuán, regions where King Mohammed VI spends his summers, contrasting this with the current permeability of the border.
The Migratory Pressure as a Tool
The director described the ongoing situation as a 'pressure tool' employed by Morocco to create an image of abnormality in Ceuta and Melilla. According to his analysis, the goal is for these cities to be perceived not as Spanish and European territories but as problems. Echeverría suggested that this strategy aims not only to exert pressure on Spain regarding issues like Western Sahara but also upon the European Union at large, labeling it as a 'policy of blackmail, using human beings.'
Additionally, the so-called 'pull effect' has been exacerbated by a Supreme Court ruling that prohibits immediate deportations, a factor that both migrants and the Moroccan state are aware of. This understanding encourages arrivals, as there is a perception that access to Spain will result in favorable outcomes for those who manage to cross. Echeverría also emphasized the presence of Algerian nationals among the new arrivals to Ceuta, despite the closed border between Morocco and Algeria since 1994. This situation underscores his assertion that Morocco does not fully control its territory and could be a tactic aimed at intensifying tensions between Spain and Algeria.
As reported by elfarodeceuta.es.
