In recent days, social media has once again ignited calls for a mass border crossing reminiscent of the events that transpired in late July. In response, Moroccan and Spanish authorities have successfully thwarted attempts by individuals to breach the border into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, located in North Africa. On Saturday, Moroccan security forces apprehended at least 111 individuals who were attempting to enter Ceuta. This surge in attempts followed an alarming trend where over 72,000 migrants had crossed into Ceuta in July alone.
Among those arrested, the Moroccan Interior Ministry reported that 109 were from Sub-Saharan Africa, alongside two Moroccan nationals. This situation has become even more poignant through the heart-wrenching story of Rahma El-Azizi, who, witnessing the mass exodus of young people towards Ceuta, allowed her children to follow suit. Tragically, she lost one of her daughters in the process, highlighting the deadly allure of Europe for many migrants.
According to the Spanish news agency EFE, Moroccan police resorted to using tear gas to disperse groups of individuals gathered in the hills approximately three kilometers from the border. Furthermore, the Moroccan Interior Ministry instructed journalists from EFE and the Spanish state broadcaster TVE to vacate the Moroccan border town of Fnideq immediately. On the Spanish side, police were actively patrolling the streets of Ceuta. The Madrid government has implemented a maritime barrier and redeployed over 500 additional police officers from the mainland, raising the total number of security personnel in the enclave to more than 1,600. Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska stated on Thursday, 'We will continue to deploy the necessary personnel to restore normalcy as quickly as possible and prevent the events of July 30 from recurring.' He also emphasized that migrants without legal residence would be returned to Morocco. Currently, approximately 5,000 migrants remain in Ceuta, according to the minister.
The heightened security measures on both sides of the border come in the wake of an unprecedented surge from two weeks ago, during which at least 96 individuals lost their lives while attempting to reach European soil. These events have sparked tensions within the European Union, with Morocco warning earlier in the week that organizers and participants of new mass crossings would face criminal prosecution. Despite this, some migrants reportedly circumvented control points by taking mountain routes towards the border, as noted by the news agency Reuters.
The media coverage surrounding the images from Ceuta plays into the 'primordial fears' of Europeans, illustrating just how susceptible the continent is to being manipulated through migration issues.
As reported by sueddeutsche.de.
