Approximately 60,000 people who arrived in Ceuta, mostly by swimming, returned to Morocco as part of the largest mass migration into Spain in recent years.
Approximately 60,000 people who arrived in Ceuta, mostly by swimming, returned to Morocco as part of the largest mass migration into Spain in recent years.
This mass migration flow shocked Spanish authorities. Spanish officials reported 72 deaths during this journey, while Moroccan authorities presented a lower figure of casualties.
Miguel Ángel Pérez Triano, government delegate in Ceuta, stated: 'The latest figure we have is 72. The previous count was 67 deaths.' Meanwhile, the Moroccan Ministry of Interior reported on Sunday that 11 people died attempting to reach Ceuta; it was also noted that 10 people drowned in the water, and one person fell from rocky terrain.
Since the start of the mass migration from Morocco to Spain, many video clips have circulated on social media. Some users claim that Moroccan authorities contributed to pushing people toward the Spanish border, despite Spain's letter of gratitude to Rabat for assisting in the return of migrants.
One such video recorded a security force member at the border throwing a large stone at a migrant being pushed back to their home country from Ceuta. This footage provoked huge public anger and outrage online.
Some users speculated that the soldier was Moroccan, while others accused Spain online. One user shared the clip, writing: 'The despicable act of Moroccan security forces throwing stones at Moroccans returning home from Ceuta to block their entry caused widespread outrage.'
Others claimed it was a Spanish soldier throwing a stone at a person seen in the video climbing a hill. User X commented: 'We need to tell the truth, a Spanish soldier throws a large stone at an illegal migrant near Ceuta.'
However, the identity of the soldier shown in the video remains unknown, as no official statements have been made regarding this matter.
The week concludes with events in Ceuta, where an estimated 50,000 to 60,000 migrants arrived in the last 24 hours. Amid a state of emergency and dozens of people dying while attempting to reach the region by swimming, the governments of Morocco and Spain are cooperating to resolve the issue. The Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, visited the region on Friday and noted that the situation 'violates the trend of decreasing illegal flows.'
On the Moroccan side, the situation has led to clashes, car burnings, and acts of violence. Images presented in the gallery demonstrate the situation on the Moroccan side of the border in Fnideq. It was in this city that international media reported 'fierce clashes' this morning as hundreds of people attempted to cross the border towards Spain.
Spanish television also broadcast footage showing hundreds of people returning to Moroccan territory on the same day.
Spain's Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, calculated that about 25,000 people who reached Ceuta have already returned to Morocco. This report was made on Monday afternoon, and according to the agency, returns are voluntary.
The official added that returns are occurring at a 'rate of 150 people per minute.' According to Sky News, if the estimates are correct, this means there are still between 35,000 and 60,000 people in Ceuta.
Sánchez again pointed to the influence of mafias, accusing them of an 'interesting interpretation' of the Spanish Supreme Court's ruling from earlier this month. He stated that this interpretation 'spread like wildfire' in Morocco in recent days and 'caused an avalanche of characteristics and scale' of images showing crowds of people.
According to migrants, a 'call effect' occurred due to this ruling, whereby people illegally arriving in the country by sea cannot be immediately returned by the authorities of another state.
The President of Ceuta, Juan Jesús Vivás, had previously criticized this 'loophole' to Spanish media, which makes it legally more advantageous to arrive by swimming than to jump over the fence, as it contributes to increasing crossings.
Today, Sánchez stated that the Guardia Civil will also install 'buoys [...] to comply with the Supreme Court's ruling and, at least, create a containment barrier—a physical barrier so that, at least visually, repatriation can occur at the border.' According to Juan Jesús Vivás, about 60,000 people entered in 24 hours, whereas the Spanish government states 50,000.
