Ceuta, a Spanish exclave on the northern coast of Africa, has experienced a significant influx of migrants, with thousands crossing from Morocco in a short period. The city, covering 19.9 square kilometers (7.7 square miles), is one of two Spanish territories on the African continent, the other being Melilla approximately 220 kilometers to the southeast. These two exclaves represent the European Union's only land borders with Africa.
Spain has held sovereignty over Ceuta since 1580. The city has a population of over 83,000 residents, comprising a mix of Christians and Muslims, including individuals from both Morocco and Spain. While the population has historically coexisted peacefully, Morocco, which largely surrounds the exclaves, continues to claim them as occupied territories, referencing historical claims dating back to the 8th century.
This dispute has led to diplomatic tensions in the past. In 2002, a standoff occurred when both Spain and Morocco deployed forces to a small, uninhabited island off the coast of Ceuta. A more recent surge in migrant crossings happened in May 2021. During a diplomatic dispute over the Western Sahara region, Morocco temporarily relaxed its border controls. This resulted in approximately 8,000 people from Morocco and other sub-Saharan countries entering Ceuta within two days. Some migrants eventually returned to Morocco, and the diplomatic rift was later resolved in 2022 when Spain supported Morocco's autonomy plan for Western Sahara.