News
People thought to be migrants stand on top of hill at the Tarajal border in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024 | Photo: Antonio Sempera / Europa Press via AP
People thought to be migrants stand on top of hill at the Tarajal border in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024 | Photo: Antonio Sempera / Europa Press via AP

Ceuta: Moroccan security forces stop 'hundreds' entering Spanish enclave

Latest update : 2024/09/17
By InfoMigrants Latest update : 2024/09/17

Moroccan security forces say they stopped migrants breach the border fence into the Spanish enclave Ceuta on Sunday. The crossing attempts followed a call out on social networks to take part in a "mass migration attempt."

A series of online messages in recent days had reportedly called on "hundreds" of migrants to come and take part in a "mass migration" attempt to cross the border fence between Morocco and the Spanish enclave Ceuta, European territory on the African continent, reported the Portuguese news agency LUSA.

The agency said that Spanish authorities thought that at least 200 youths had attempted the crossing on Sunday (September 15). Around another 30 had tried to swim around the barriers in the sea between the two territories. They said the Moroccan security authorities had at least 50 guards placed at the borders.

File photo: Migrants cross the hills near the Moroccan town of Fnideq, near the Spanish enclave Ceuta in May 2021. On this most recent attempt, many retreated to the hills, after their crossing attempts were foiled by the Moroccan authorities | Photo: Mosa'ab Elshamy / picture alliance / Associated Press
File photo: Migrants cross the hills near the Moroccan town of Fnideq, near the Spanish enclave Ceuta in May 2021. On this most recent attempt, many retreated to the hills, after their crossing attempts were foiled by the Moroccan authorities | Photo: Mosa'ab Elshamy / picture alliance / Associated Press

Moroccan authorities said they thwarted the attempts on Sunday, reported the news agency Associated Press (AP). The Spanish Interior Ministry confirmed on Monday that none of the attempts to cross had been successful.

Also read: Ceuta legislators pay respects to migrants who died trying to swim to enclave

'Situation brought under control'

The Spanish ministry said that efforts of the authorities in both countries had allowed "the situation to be brought under control." The latest attempt follows a similar situation in August.

On Sunday videos online purported to show groups of people retreating in the hills not far from the border fence, and a heightened Moroccan security presence, including helicopters, according to AP. At least 60 people have been arrested on suspicion of inciting mass migration attempts on social networks, between September 9 and 11 in several different cities across Morocco.

File photo: The Spanish government said on Monday the situation had been 'brought under control' by security forces on both sides of the fence | Photo: Bernat Armangue / picture alliance / Associated Press
File photo: The Spanish government said on Monday the situation had been 'brought under control' by security forces on both sides of the fence | Photo: Bernat Armangue / picture alliance / Associated Press

The Spanish news agency EFE reported that there were "groups of young people" present around the border town of Fnideq in Morocco, who are suspected of hoping to cross. The news agency said that many of the young people were Moroccan minors.

In a statement, Moroccan security forces say they stopped 45,000 attempts to reach Europe from their country between January this year and early September. In August alone, authorities cited by AP said they thwarted 11,000 migration attempts were thwarted in the region around Ceuta, and another 3,000 around Melilla, AP cited the authorities as saying.

During August, thousands attempted to cross into Ceuta, including by swimming around the barriers in the sea between the two territories.

Also read: 'I wanted my son to be born in Europe'

At least one reported death

Also on Sunday, the French news agency Agence France Presse (AFP) reported that the Moroccan authorities reported fishing at least one body out of the sea near the border barriers. The nationality of the person thought to be a migrant was not shared.

Moroccan police spent all night reportedly trying to round up the would-be migrants around Fnideq, before driving them back by coach to their home towns in Morocco, reported local media, via AFP.

The agency reported that in recent weeks, the numbers of young would-be migrants had increased around border towns like Fnideq. The Moroccan authorities also claim to have dismantled at least 177 smuggling networks since the beginning of the year.

The numbers of migrants arriving on the Canary Islands has increased this year, compared to last, but Moroccan authorities say they have prevented more crossing the Mediterranean towards mainland Spain | Photo: picture alliance / abaca
The numbers of migrants arriving on the Canary Islands has increased this year, compared to last, but Moroccan authorities say they have prevented more crossing the Mediterranean towards mainland Spain | Photo: picture alliance / abaca

Despite the prevention of some of the migration attempts towards Europe across the Mediterranean, the Atlantic route from West Africa, including Morocco, towards the Spanish Canary Islands archipelago has increased this year, according to figures released by Frontex. They say that between January and August 15, arrivals on the Canary Islands increased by 126 percent compared to figures during the equivalent period in 2023.

With AP, LUSA, AFP and EFE