Morocco thwarts attempt by hundreds of sub-Saharan migrants to reach Ceuta

Moroccan security forces successfully thwarted an attempt by hundreds of migrants, primarily from sub-Saharan Africa, to cross irregularly into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta on Saturday. The migrants had gathered in mountainous terrain on the outskirts of the Moroccan border city of Fnideq, also known as Castillejos.

According to Moroccan security sources, agents dispersed the group, who are still present in the area. The city of Fnideq itself was calm on Saturday morning, though under a significant police presence. Controls have been intensified on the main roads leading to Fnideq, particularly those coming from Tetouan and Tangier.

During the early morning hours, surveillance efforts were heightened in the vicinity of the Ceuta border, encompassing both land and sea. The Royal Moroccan Navy deployed high-speed boats, and drones were utilized as part of the security operation.

A 17-year-old migrant, one of the few who managed to reach Ceuta, recounted her journey from Tetouan to Fnideq. She explained that she traveled by bus, which was stopped at three checkpoints along the approximately 35-kilometer route. Thousands of security personnel are involved in the operation organized by Rabat to prevent a mass crossing into Ceuta, which had been called for via social media following a tragic incident on July 30 and 31, when tens of thousands of people crossed into the Spanish territory, resulting in at least 141 deaths, according to humanitarian organizations.

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She explained that she traveled in a bus that was stopped at three checkpoints along the approximately 35 kilometers that separate both towns.