Moroccan authorities thwarted an attempt by dozens of migrants to breach the border fence leading to Spain’s Ceuta enclave on Sunday, following calls for a mass migration attempt circulating on social media.
Spain’s enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, located on Morocco’s Mediterranean coast, represent the only land borders between the European Union and Africa. These enclaves are frequent targets for mass migration attempts by individuals hoping to reach Europe.
In the latest incident, groups of migrants gathered on a hill in Fnideq, near the border, and clashed with Moroccan security forces by hurling stones, as captured in footage shared by local news outlets. However, police successfully prevented them from reaching the Ceuta fence.
Moroccan officials reported arresting at least 60 individuals the previous week for using social media to incite the mass crossing attempt.
Since Friday, the authorities have intensified their presence in the area. “This is the heaviest security deployment ever in Fnideq, with pre-emptive measures such as setting up numerous checkpoints on roads leading to northern Morocco,” said local human rights activist Mohammed Ben Aissa.
He added that hundreds of potential migrants had been transported away from the area, most of whom were young Moroccans, along with some from sub-Saharan Africa. Many of these migrants arrive in Fnideq on foot and attempt to evade authorities by hiding in nearby forests, said another activist, Zakaria Razzouki.
Razzouki also noted that Moroccan security forces are not only focused on preventing border crossings but are also patrolling the coastline to stop migrants from swimming to Ceuta.
The Moroccan interior ministry declined to comment on the situation when approached by Reuters.
Relations between Morocco and Spain have improved since a diplomatic dispute was resolved in 2022, resulting in closer cooperation on curbing illegal migration.
In the first eight months of 2024, Morocco prevented 45,015 people from illegally migrating to Europe, according to data from its interior ministry.
Last month, hundreds of migrants used dense fog as cover to swim to Ceuta, according to Spanish police. Meanwhile, increased surveillance along Morocco’s northern borders has led many migrants to attempt the more dangerous and longer Atlantic route to the Canary Islands.
