Morocco Stops Hundreds of Migrants Heading Towards Ceuta

Moroccan security forces clashed with hundreds of migrants attempting to cross into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta on Saturday, according to Spanish media reports. The operation involved riot police and helicopters in dispersing the group, with some migrants being forcibly relocated by authorities.

Spanish newspaper El País reported that authorities used buses to transport migrants, some of whom were sent as far as Ouarzazate, a city located over 800 kilometers from the border. Moroccan security sources indicated that over a hundred individuals were detained. The majority of those apprehended were reportedly from sub-Saharan Africa. Spanish broadcaster RTVE added that Moroccan forces also deployed tear gas against the migrants.

The migrants had gathered in a mountainous area near the town of Fnideq, just a few kilometers from Ceuta, since early morning. This event comes after a significant surge in late July, when tens of thousands of people attempted to cross from Morocco into Ceuta, a situation that human rights organizations estimate resulted in around 140 deaths.

Morocco had deployed over a thousand security personnel to the Ceuta border area in anticipation of further arrivals, fueled by social media rumors. Spain also reinforced its border with police, civil guards, and soldiers. Moroccan authorities also reported arresting over sixty individuals for inciting and facilitating illegal migration through social media platforms, suggesting a proactive approach to managing migrant movements.