Increased Security Measures in Response to Migration Attempts
The Moroccan authorities have escalated their security presence in the areas adjacent to Ceuta and Melilla, coinciding with ongoing calls circulating on social media for another mass attempt to enter the two cities on August 15. This comes just weeks after a significant wave of mass migration peaked on July 30, resulting in numerous casualties.
As of Tuesday, sources indicate that Moroccan security forces have intensified monitoring operations on roads and access points leading to the areas near Ceuta and Melilla. They are actively intercepting individuals suspected of preparing to participate in irregular migration attempts, subsequently returning them to their original cities.
Both the police and the royal gendarmerie have bolstered checkpoints at the entrances to several towns surrounding Ceuta, subjecting vehicles to searches and verifying the identities of passengers. This initiative aims to curb the influx of new groups looking to cross into the occupied cities.
Ongoing Concerns and Warnings from Authorities
Similarly, the regions adjacent to Melilla are experiencing heightened security, particularly in the Nador province, where checkpoints have been established at the city’s entry points. This is occurring alongside ongoing operations to intercept individuals suspected of trying to access the city.
These measures are timely, as calls for another collective attempt to reach Ceuta and Melilla continue to proliferate on social media, despite the significant security presence in the affected areas. The calls have persisted just four days ahead of the proposed date, suggesting a possible new attempt on August 15.
In light of these developments, the Spanish Embassy in Morocco took to Facebook on Tuesday to reiterate a warning regarding the circulating information about the possibility of illegal entry into Ceuta or Melilla. It emphasized that illegal entry into these cities does not confer any right to remain in Spain nor facilitate movement to other European nations.
This resurgence of calls echoes the events of July 30, when Ceuta witnessed an extraordinary wave of mass entry, marking one of the largest migration surges the city has experienced in recent years. According to reports from the Spanish press, tens of thousands of individuals entered Ceuta during this wave, with over 70,000 returning to Morocco, while others remained within the city.
As reported by assahifa.com.
