Spain and Morocco Brace for a New Wave of Migrants in Ceuta

Authorities in Spain and Morocco are bracing for a possible repeat of the mass migrant surge into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in North Africa, with a new attempt to breach the border expected as early as this weekend.

Moroccan Interior Ministry spokesman Rachid Khalfi said the country "is taking all necessary measures to prevent any attempt at illegal border crossing." Spain has made similar statements: following the incident in July, it beefed up its security presence at the border, deploying an additional 300 police officers and 2,000 troops, and building a new maritime barrier to prevent migrants from easily reaching Ceuta by sea.

Madrid's Hard Line

Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska told Politico: "We are doing this to discourage anyone who might try to enter Ceuta and Melilla illegally" — Melilla being another Spanish enclave on the African coast. According to him, "none of them will stay in Ceuta, none will reach mainland Spain, and none will be granted legal status."

For its part, Morocco has erected a barbed-wire fence along the border, its ships patrol the coastline, and water-cannon trucks have been stationed along the frontier. Moroccan police and army units are monitoring all approach routes to the border with Ceuta.

A Warning Against Fake News

Madrid is also running an information campaign on social media in Spanish and Moroccan Arabic, urging people not to fall for false rumours about an "open border." According to Spanish Civil Guard data cited by broadcaster Canal Sur, authorities are warning: "Whatever they promise you is a lie. If you throw yourself into the sea, you will most likely die. If you manage to cross the border, you will have entered illegally and will be sent back."

The alarm was triggered by an incident in late July, when around 72,000 migrants broke through into Ceuta — most of whom later returned to Morocco. Several dozen people drowned while trying to reach the Spanish city.

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz