Spanish authorities have deployed the armed forces to the North African enclave of Ceuta after approximately 60,000 migrants crossed the border from Morocco in a sudden, large-scale surge. The influx has overwhelmed the city, which has a population of roughly 83,600, leading to reports of at least 57 deaths.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez characterized the event as a violation of Spain's territorial integrity. He attributed the crisis to trafficking gangs that allegedly manipulated a recent Spanish Supreme Court ruling—which prohibited the summary return of migrants intercepted at sea—to encourage the mass crossing. While Spanish officials reported that over 48,000 individuals had voluntarily returned to Morocco by Friday evening, thousands remain in the city, where local residents described chaotic scenes of people filling streets and squares in search of food.
The situation has triggered significant diplomatic tension within Europe. Italy announced the suspension of the EU's Schengen border-free arrangements with Spain, a move described by the Spanish foreign minister as "improper" for a partner nation. Other European leaders, including those from the Czech Republic and Finland, have criticized Spain's border management, while EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen labeled the scenes "unacceptable."
In response to the crisis, the Spanish government has pledged to reinforce border security and stated that Moroccan authorities are cooperating with the repatriation process. Ceuta and Melilla, Spain's two enclaves on the African continent, serve as the European Union's only land borders with Africa and have long been focal points for migration attempts.
Source: BBC News
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