A major warning for Europe as 60,000 migrants “take over” Ceuta, Spain

On Thursday, thousands of Moroccan migrants overran the small Spanish enclave of Ceuta, shouting “Viva Espana” (Long live Spain). Many broke the border walls, swam into Tarajal beach, and invaded Ceuta. In the process, about 35 migrants drowned.

The striking images have brought back memories of the 2015 migratory crisis and sparked worries about Europe’s free borders. Spain despatched diving teams to patrol the waterways, rushed in its soldiers, and provided air and naval support as the chaos developed. Additionally, it prompted Italy to demand that Spain be barred from the free-travel zone of the European Union.

It is estimated that some 60,000 individuals entered Ceuta, which is in North Africa but is under Spanish administration. There were families with women and kids, but the majority were young males. As migrant shelters quickly became overcrowded, clashes were also reported. Hundreds of people were seen sleeping on the streets.

“The border has completely crumbled… The head of Spain’s border guards, Rachid Sbihi, stated, “The situation is absolute chaos.”Africa is home to Ceuta and Melilla, another autonomous Spanish city. The Gibraltar Strait divides Ceuta, on the northern coast of Morocco, from the Spanish mainland. The only land boundary between Europe and Africa is actually Ceuta. For migrants hoping to reach Europe, this makes it an appealing entry point.

The migration issue between Morocco and Spain has been contentious, particularly regarding Ceuta and Melilla, which Morocco views as occupied territories. A significant crisis occurred in 2021 when over 10,000 migrants reached Ceuta’s border in two days, with tragic incidents following in 2022.

Migrants are drawn by the promise of better opportunities and safety from violence. Recently, a Spanish Supreme Court ruling preventing the immediate return of migrants stopped at sea has exacerbated tensions, as Spain accuses human trafficking networks of exploiting this decision. While Spain has not directly blamed Morocco, it remains responsible for managing migration flows at the border.

The recent incident in Ceuta has raised alarms across Europe regarding ongoing migration issues. Although migrant arrivals have significantly decreased since 2015—from over a million to around 200,000 annually as reported by UNHCR—political tensions remain high. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, facing upcoming elections, suggested “extraordinary measures” might be necessary, including potentially suspending the Schengen agreement with Spain. She emphasized that images from Ceuta reflect a serious threat of “uncontrolled illegal immigration” to Europe’s security, underscoring that the region’s migration challenges persist.