The Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, is facing intense criticism from the opposition regarding his administration's handling of the thousands of migrants stranded in Ceuta and neighboring Morocco. Amidst this crisis, calls for a return to normalcy have resonated throughout the exclave, with thousands demanding immediate action. Recent nationwide protests have seen tens of thousands of citizens rally against the government's migration policies, highlighting the sentiment that the North African exclave is an integral part of Spain.
Critics, including participants and speakers at these demonstrations, have accused Sánchez's central government of adopting a conciliatory approach towards Morocco while failing to adequately support Ceuta. Just recently, Moroccan Minister of Islamic Affairs, Ahmed Toufiq, reaffirmed his country's historical claims over the "occupied cities" of Ceuta and Melilla, while Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi called for the return of these Spanish enclaves to the "motherland." The situation remains dire, with thousands of migrants still waiting in Ceuta as the Madrid government establishes a crisis task force and reaches out to the European Commission for assistance.
Opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo of the conservative People's Party described the influx of migrants as an "invasion" orchestrated by Morocco, accusing Sánchez's administration of deceit. Feijóo asserted that claims of no prior warning regarding the migration crisis and assertions that Morocco did not incite the influx were false. In Madrid alone, around 50,000 demonstrators participated in the protest, where the National Police reportedly deployed tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse extremist groups congregating near the Parliament building. Four individuals, including two minors, were arrested for disturbing the peace and resisting law enforcement, resulting in injuries to four police officers.
In Ceuta, thousands gathered under a sea of Spanish flags to advocate for a return to normalcy and the retention of the exclave within Spain. Protest banners proclaimed, "Ceuta will not sell itself, Ceuta will not surrender." The demonstrations were organized by FEMP, the umbrella organization of Spanish municipalities, led by the opposition People's Party. Mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, emphasized that "Ceuta is Spanish and will not be abandoned." PP Secretary-General Miguel Tellado reported approximately 2,000 protests across the country, reiterating calls for the government's resignation and new elections. Notably, the far-right Vox party also participated in these protests.
Counter-demonstrations occurred in cities like Barcelona and Bilbao, where participants voiced their opposition to racism with slogans such as "No human being is illegal." Government statistics indicated that at least 72,000 migrants flooded into Ceuta on July 30 and 31, and approximately 5,000 remain in the exclave a month later, some camping out on streets and beaches, placing a significant strain on the local population of 83,000. This situation has led to recurring protests and, in some instances, violent attacks against migrants and private aid organizations.
Legally, Spain cannot conduct mass deportations of migrants and is required to process each asylum application individually, a process that could take weeks or even months. Furthermore, the Spanish government is hesitant to relocate migrants to the mainland due to Ceuta's exclusion from the Schengen Area, which could prompt other Schengen members to impose border controls similar to those established by Italy.
While many of the 80,000 Moroccans who entered Ceuta in late July have returned home, thousands remain hidden, living in alleys and forests, only emerging for food distributions. This ongoing crisis continues to challenge Spain's social and political landscape.
As reported by sueddeutsche.de.
