On Monday, more than 350 migrants from Sub-Saharan Africa stormed the city hoping to enter the European Union (see our Monday news roundup). Six meter high fences around the city were constructed to protect from this sort of migration.  Migrants either climb the fences or swim around the border to enter Ceuta. Many of the migrants celebrated upon reaching the Spanish city.

Over 350 migrants broke through a border fence between Morocco and the Spanish enclave of Ceuta: https://t.co/LoEjCFe1mz pic.twitter.com/48aeTBsChE

— Reuters World (@ReutersWorld) February 20, 2017

Migrant rights

Human rights organizations have often criticized Spain’s policies towards migrants coming to Ceuta in recent years. Spain has been tightening its border controls resulting in more migrants trying to get into Ceuta by boat or swimming rather than going over the fences. According to Human Rights Watch's (HRW) World Report 2017 published in January, 45 migrants died trying to swim to Ceuta in the first six months of 2016.

A report from HRW in 2014 titled “Abused and Expelled: Ill- Treatment of Sub-Saharan African Migrants in Morocco” stated that Spain’s Guardia Civil police have used excessive force when expelling migrants back to Morocco. Migrants who have been expelled from Ceuta from Morocco also could face beatings from the Moroccan authorities.

Amnesty International’s annual report on Spain for 2016/2017 claimed that in the case of Ceuta, “The Spanish reception system for asylum-seekers remained inadequate, with too few places in official reception centres and too little assistance for those housed outside them.”

The report also said that Spain collectively expelled 60 people on September 9, 2016 from Ceuta to Morocco. “Before being expelled some of them were beaten by Moroccan officers who entered the areas between the fences, which is Spanish territory. Some of those returned to Morocco were injured while scaling the fences and as a result of the beatings” the report continued.

On February 6, 2014, the Spanish police used tear gas and rubber bullets to "push-back" against migrants trying to come into Ceuta. Fifteen migrants were killed and many were injured. A case against the Spanish police was brought to the courts on behalf of the victims and their families in 2014, but  the case was closed in 2015. This yerar, the Spanish regional court in Ceuta reopened the case.  According to the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights, it was reopened due to the original case being incomplete:  "Testimonies from survivors and witnesses are missing, whereas testimonies by Spanish officers were heard by the court."

Dispute with EU over Western Sahara

More migrants could enter Ceuta or reach European shores from Morocco in the future.

The Moroccan government is currently in a dispute with the European Union over a free trade and fishing deal. The EU claimed that the deal does not apply to the Western Sahara, a territory that Morocco claims is part of its territory. This implies that the EU does not recognize the Western Sahara as a part of Morocco.

A militant organization backed by Algeria called the Polisario Front is trying to end Moroccan presence in Western Sahara. Any EU dispute over Moroccan claims to the territory could empower the organization as well as anger Rabat.

Morocco could loosen efforts to control its border with Ceuta, as a way to strike back at the EU over the trade deal. The Moroccan security forces are keeping the migrants from entering the Spanish enclave. Migrants are being used by Morocco as a means to put political pressure on the EU over the trade deal. If Morocco doesn't find the EU's political stance on the Western Sahara issue favorable, they could just let more migrants through to Ceuta.

 

Author: Wesley Dockery