"This trauma will haunt us for a long time": in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, the scars of an unprecedented migration drama

Ceuta, a Spanish enclave on the North African coast, is grappling with the fallout from an unprecedented migrant crisis. Three days after the largest-ever illegal migrant influx in its history, the territory is tending to its wounds and attempting to de-escalate rising tensions.

The situation has become politically precarious for Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who is facing criticism from multiple sides. Adding to the charged atmosphere, far-right activists from the group Nucleo Nacional converged on Ceuta from across Spain. They organized a demonstration outside the local government delegation, a representation of Sánchez's executive.

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We have come to Ceuta to rid it of its Arabs!

During the protest, one activist was heard shouting, "We have come to Ceuta to rid it of its Arabs!" He was accompanied by Alvise Perez, a Member of the European Parliament who traveled from Madrid specifically to participate in what he termed "the war against the invasion." These inflammatory words and the presence of the far-right group immediately ignited extreme indignation and anger among hundreds of local residents, the majority of whom are Muslim.

The events highlight the deep divisions and volatile situation in Ceuta, a territory that serves as a flashpoint for migration issues and political extremism. The enclave's unique geographical position, surrounded by Morocco, makes it a frequent focal point for migration attempts and the associated political and social challenges.

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the war against the invasion