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🇸🇪 Sweden /Crime & Justice

Moroccan police opened border to migrants, witnesses claim amid Ceuta crisis

From Svenska Dagbladet · () Swedish

Translated from Swedish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Moroccan border guards allegedly allowed migrants to cross into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, contradicting official Spanish accounts.
  • Migrants reported social media posts and police encouragement to cross, with some witnessing deceased individuals during the sea crossing.
  • The influx of nearly 60,000 people overwhelmed Spanish authorities, who had not anticipated the scale of the event.

Moroccan border guards may have facilitated the unprecedented surge of migrants into Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta, according to accounts from migrants and witnesses. While Spanish authorities stated they were caught off guard by the scale of the influx, which saw nearly 60,000 people cross over two days, some migrants claim they were actively guided by Moroccan police.

They opened the border and let everyone pass.

— Ajoub el-ArrotA 24-year-old Moroccan migrant describing how he was allowed to cross into Ceuta.

"They opened the border and let everyone pass," said Ajoub el-Arrot, a 24-year-old Moroccan who sought to reach Spain for work opportunities. He described being allowed through by Moroccan police at the border area. Another migrant, 26-year-old Youssef Alaoui, stated that Moroccan police directed his group towards Ceuta, telling them "go that way, go that direction." He recounted seeing dead bodies in the sea during his crossing.

They said just: go that way, go that way.

— Youssef AlaouiA 26-year-old migrant explaining how Moroccan police directed him towards Ceuta.

Mohammed Ahmidho, 37, also reported encouragement from Moroccan police, who he said shouted "Come to Spain" as he approached the border. While social media also fueled the belief that borders were open, many migrants, like Ahmidho, returned to Morocco quickly due to a lack of basic necessities such as food in Ceuta. The Spanish Civil Guard had increased its presence in June, but officials in Madrid reportedly did not raise an alarm until the situation escalated rapidly.

Come to Spain

— Moroccan policeReported shouts from Moroccan police to migrants approaching the border.

Spanish government sources admitted that the events of Thursday and Friday were entirely unexpected, with their focus being on potential fires elsewhere. "We expected the week to be one of fires, fires, and more fires. Ceuta was not on our radar. We had no information about the scale of what was to come," one official told El País. The situation highlights a significant disconnect between Spanish preparedness and the reality on the ground, with accusations of complicity from Moroccan authorities adding a complex layer to the crisis.

We expected the week to be one of fires, fires, and more fires. Ceuta was not on our radar. We had no information about the scale of what was to come.

— Spanish government officialDescribing the Spanish government's lack of anticipation regarding the migrant influx into Ceuta.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Svenska Dagbladet in Swedish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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