Hundreds of migrants who recently entered Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta have staged a protest on a popular urban beach, urging Spanish authorities to grant them asylum instead of sending them back to Morocco. These individuals were among an estimated 5,000 to 8,000 who remain in Ceuta after a mass border crossing two weeks prior, which saw over 72,000 people surge into the territory. The vast majority of those who crossed have since returned to Morocco voluntarily.
With the city's resources overstretched, most of the remaining migrants have been living in precarious conditions on El Trampolin beach or on the city's outskirts while awaiting an opportunity to travel to mainland Europe. "We're sleeping next to the sea, with cold and bad smells. We're suffering a lot," said Ayoub Elarroud from Tetouan, Morocco, adding that police were preventing migrants from entering the city center. Protesters held Spanish flags and banners with messages such as "We don't want to go back to Morocco" and "We are also human," while chanting slogans expressing their fatigue and need for a solution.
Migrants were observed washing clothes and fishing with makeshift rods on the shores. Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska has stated that migrants who entered irregularly would not be allowed to stay in the enclave, travel to mainland Spain, or obtain legal status, with exceptions for cases of extreme vulnerability.
The head of Ceuta's medical board, Enrique Roviralta, informed Onda Cero radio that healthcare workers were exhausted and criticized the central government's response as slow. Roviralta also reported outbreaks of infectious diseases like diarrhea and scabies, alongside an increase in violence-related injuries. Health Minister Mónica García acknowledged the pressure on local health services but rejected claims of collapse, stating that while there was a moderate risk of epidemic outbreaks for migrants, the risk to residents was low. She added that associating migration with illness was unjust and xenophobic.
Many Moroccan migrants interviewed cited poor working conditions in their home country as a primary motivation for their journey, despite some holding higher qualifications. Mohammed Ouanzar, an automation specialist, stated that average monthly salaries of $324 made it impossible to afford a home or start a family. Emmanuel, an electrician from Nigeria, fled conflict and sought a better life for his children, emphasizing his willingness to take any job offered. Mohammad Ismail Hossain, who traveled from Bangladesh, recounted the perilous journey and the loss of companions to thirst in the desert. Ousmane from Senegal is seeking asylum due to persecution over his sexual orientation.
Over the weekend, hundreds of migrants attempted to storm Ceuta in a second organized crossing attempt but were intercepted by riot police. Morocco's Le360 media reported at least 300 arrests. Police used tear gas to disperse groups gathered near the border. Reports indicated that social media messages had circulated prior to the event, calling for a mass crossing on August 15, a public holiday in Spain. Rabat stated it was monitoring such messages and would prosecute organizers and participants. Ceuta and Melilla are the European Union's only land borders with Africa.