FACTS: Ceuta is a small Spanish peninsula with 85,000 inhabitants

The Spanish city of Ceuta, a small peninsula on the African continent, has seen tens of thousands of migrants cross its border in recent days. Located at the Strait of Gibraltar, Ceuta is a Spanish territory bordering Morocco and lies approximately 25 kilometers south of mainland Spain.

Ceuta covers nearly 19 square kilometers and has been Spanish since 1580, having previously been Portuguese. The city holds historical significance, having been the starting point for the nationalist rebellion in 1936 that led to the Spanish Civil War and Francisco Franco's long fascist dictatorship.

Today, Ceuta is home to about 85,000 residents, a mix of Spanish and Moroccan populations, predominantly Muslim and Christian. Spain also maintains another exclave, Melilla, further east along the coast. These two enclaves represent the European Union's sole land borders with Africa, alongside several smaller nearby islands.

The border is heavily guarded by police and a paramilitary unit, with a border fence in place. Despite these measures, migrants have repeatedly arrived in Ceuta over the years. A notable incident occurred in 2021 when around 8,000 people crossed the border in two days, though they were subsequently returned to Morocco. Migrants employ various methods to cross, including swimming around fences, taking short boat trips, climbing the fence, or cutting through it with tools. Those who successfully enter typically aim to proceed to mainland Spain or elsewhere in Europe.