Spain Clears Migrant Camp in Ceuta Ahead of Royal Visit
Authorities dismantle the last major migrant encampment in the North African enclave as King Felipe and Queen Letizia prepare to visit.
Spanish police have cleared the final significant migrant camp in Ceuta, a Spanish enclave in North Africa, just days before King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia are scheduled to visit the territory. The operation took place on Sunday morning at the El Guano esplanade, where hundreds of migrants had been living in makeshift shelters.
The camp was established following a large influx of over 70,000 individuals who crossed the border from neighboring Morocco on July 30 and 31. While the majority of these migrants returned to Morocco within days, approximately 10,000 remained in Ceuta, creating strain on the city's resources. The surge in arrivals, which resulted in numerous deaths, caused concern across the European Union and led to a political crisis in Spain.
More than 350 police officers from various units participated in Sunday's operation, the fifth such action in Ceuta in recent weeks aimed at clearing public spaces, according to the interior ministry. Migrants were transported by bus to reception centers for processing, and cleanup crews moved in to clear the esplanade and nearby beach. Some individuals reportedly fled into nearby hills to evade authorities.
The royal visit to Ceuta, scheduled for Tuesday, is part of a broader trip that includes a visit to the enclave of Melilla on October 14. This marks the first time a Spanish monarch has visited these two North African cities since November 2007, an event that precipitated a diplomatic dispute with Morocco. The specific itinerary for King Felipe and Queen Letizia's visit has not yet been disclosed.
Morocco maintains territorial claims over both Ceuta and Melilla. The Spanish opposition has criticized Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's government, alleging a slow response to the migrant crisis in Ceuta.
Last week, Spanish police cleared thousands of migrants from a camp on Trampolin beach in Ceuta, where approximately 3,000 individuals had been living in tents and makeshift accommodations for two months. These migrants were relocated to temporary housing.
