Morocco Foils Mass Attempt to Cross Into Spanish Enclave of Ceuta

RABAT, Aug 15: Moroccan authorities said Saturday they had foiled a mass attempt by irregular migrants to cross from the northern city of Fnideq into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta.

The Fnideq governorate said security forces deployed around Ceuta and Melilla had prevented any mass crossing attempts, while the situation at the border crossings remained normal.

According to an unnamed security official cited in the statement, around 300 irregular migrants, mostly from sub-Saharan African countries, gathered Saturday morning in mountainous areas surrounding Ceuta.

Security forces prevented the group from approaching or entering the enclave. No violent confrontations or material damage were reported, the official said.

Authorities deployed significant numbers of personnel along with surveillance drones and other mobile equipment to prevent a mass crossing, according to the statement.

Morocco had strengthened its security presence in Fnideq in recent days, with searches and heightened security measures continuing across the city.

The attempted crossing came on the date highlighted by Morocco’s Interior Ministry in warnings about anonymous social media calls urging migrants to attempt a mass crossing into the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla.

The latest incident follows a deadly crossing attempt earlier this year. Morocco’s National Human Rights Council said on Aug. 8 that the death toll from the Ceuta crossing wave had reached 14, while Spanish figures put the number of fatalities at 80. Moroccan authorities estimated that around 40,000 people attempted to cross, compared with more than 70,000 according to Spanish authorities.

Ceuta and Melilla are located on Morocco’s northern coast but remain under Spanish administration. Morocco claims sovereignty over both territories.