Tens of thousands of people have protested across Spain against the government's management of a recent migrant surge in Ceuta, a Spanish enclave on the North African coast. Opposition parties are accusing Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez of neglecting the residents of the territory.
At the end of July, an estimated 72,000 migrants crossed from Morocco into Ceuta. While most have since been returned, up to 5,000 individuals, including 1,400 children, remain in makeshift camps throughout the city. Authorities in Ceuta have warned the city is on the brink of disaster.
Prime Minister Sanchez has attributed the surge to trafficking gangs and misinformation spread online, while also stating that Moroccan police "allowed the border to be crossed" during a 10-hour period on July 30. However, he has also maintained that there is no evidence the Moroccan government orchestrated the incident, and Morocco has denied any involvement. The Spanish leader indicated that the government would release key reports concerning the border breach, but did not specify a timeline or content.
Sanchez also raised the official death toll from the event to 141 people, a significant increase from previous estimates. He faces scrutiny from residents of Ceuta, who are reportedly angered by the influx and the enclave's limited capacity to handle it.
Conflicting information has emerged from government officials regarding the event. The Defense Ministry previously stated that Spain's intelligence agency had provided a warning of the border rush, a claim disputed by the Interior Ministry and other departments.
Rallies were organized by city councils across Spain, particularly in areas governed by opposition parties like the conservative Partido Popular (PP) and the far-right Vox party. Demonstrators in Madrid, where government figures indicated over 50,000 people gathered, called for Sanchez's resignation. PP leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo criticized the government, stating, "A Spanish city has been invaded, occupied and, unfortunately, this happened with the knowledge of the government of Spain."
A protest also took place in Ceuta, with participants chanting slogans demanding the city's defense. In Barcelona, thousands of protesters were met by a counter-gathering with anti-racist and anti-fascist slogans, necessitating police intervention.
Sanchez addressed the Congress of Deputies, facing questions from lawmakers and calls for early elections. He suggested that a misinterpretation of a Supreme Court ruling and social media disinformation contributed to the rush, and also accused social media accounts linked to Russia, Israel, and right-wing groups of amplifying the crisis. Both Israel and Russia have denied these claims.
Regarding Morocco's role, Sanchez stated that if solid evidence of Rabat's involvement emerged, Spain would act decisively. He condemned comments from two Moroccan ministers that questioned the sovereignty of Ceuta and Melilla, another Spanish territory in North Africa, leading Spain to summon Morocco's ambassador.
Approximately 5,000 individuals, including 1,200 minors, remain in Ceuta, according to the national government, though the local government estimates the number to be around 9,000. The exclaves of Ceuta and Melilla represent the European Union's only land borders with Africa. 
