Hundreds of Migrants Protest in Ceuta as Morocco Increases Border Arrests

Moroccan security forces prevented nearly 300 irregular migrants from crossing into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta on Saturday and arrested hundreds of other would-be migrants in Fnideq, northern Morocco.

Authorities launched field operations and security force interventions early Saturday morning, leading to the arrest of 248 migrants from sub-Saharan African countries and 46 Moroccan nationals. Preemptive measures, including online monitoring, also led to the arrest of 61 people suspected of inciting irregular migration and promoting collective border crossing attempts via social media platforms. The Moroccan human rights association (AMDH) reported that around 300 sub-Saharan migrants and 50 Moroccans were arrested and distributed between police stations in Fnideq and Tetouan.

Hakim Sikouk, president of AMDH in Rabat, stated that the arrested sub-Saharan Africans were mistreated. Lawyers believe these migrants face deportation to their countries of origin, with Sudanese migrants potentially sent to the Sahara or the 'Oriental region' on the border with Algeria. Meanwhile, hundreds of migrants remaining in Ceuta staged a protest Sunday, demanding asylum.

They carried signs reading "We don’t want to go back to Morocco" and "We are also human," alongside Spanish flags, chanting "We’re tired" and "We need a solution." Ayoub Elarroud, a Moroccan migrant, described sleeping by the sea with cold and bad smells. The Spanish government estimates between 7,000 and 9,000 migrants remain in Ceuta, while local authorities believe the figure could be as high as 11,000.

Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska stated that migrants would not be permitted to stay in Ceuta, travel to mainland Spain, or obtain legal status. Government officials are also determining the fate of approximately 1,300 migrant minors in Ceuta without parents. The president of Ceuta advocates for the children's return, while Spanish officials suggest they find refuge in territories like Ceuta. The mass migration event in late July saw an estimated 60,000 to 80,000 people cross into Ceuta from Morocco.