Moroccan authorities have announced the arrest of over 100 individuals attempting to cross into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, marking a significant escalation in migration flows across the Mediterranean. The incident, which occurred on Saturday, involved large groups of migrants, predominantly from sub-Saharan Africa, heading towards the autonomous city on the northern coast of Africa. The number of migrants arriving in Ceuta has been steadily increasing in recent months, with over 70,000 individuals fleeing to the city since the beginning of the year, a figure that has tragically resulted in a significant loss of life. The situation has been compounded by a recent disinformation campaign on social media, which appears to be encouraging migrants to seek refuge in Ceuta, further straining the region’s resources and security. The Moroccan Ministry of Interior stated that authorities were actively working to foil any such attempts, deploying hundreds of police officers to confront the crowds. The police operation resulted in at least 111 arrests, according to Reuters, citing a source within Morocco’s Ministry of Interior. Police utilized tear gas to disperse the crowds, leading to a considerable number of individuals being detained. Spanish newspaper ABC reported that hundreds of people were traveling to the enclave, which Morocco does not recognize as Spanish territory. The crowds advanced through the mountains on their way to Ceuta, passing through Fnideq, a coastal town in northern Morocco. Local news outlet Le360 reported that as many as 294 people had been arrested, including 46 Moroccans. The arrests follow a previous week’s announcement by Moroccan authorities that they were undertaking a crackdown on migrants attempting to reach the city. Earlier, Jaime de los Santos, Spanish lawmaker and deputy secretary of education for the conservative People’s Party (PP), accused Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez of failing to adequately address the crisis. Sanchez, currently on holiday at the Royal Residence of La Mareta in Lanzarote, a common getaway destination for Spanish prime ministers, has been criticized for his perceived inaction. De los Santos stated that the crisis began on July 30, and that 16 days have passed since Spain was invaded by more than 80,000 Moroccan citizens, with at least nine6 people dying in the process. Approximately 72,000 people entered Ceuta in late July, and at least 96 people died trying to reach the enclave. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said on Thursday that about 5,000 migrants remained in Ceuta. The Moroccan government has also emphasized its commitment to border security and has reported that 5,000 migrants remained in Ceuta, a number that has become a focal point of international concern. The influx of migrants has placed a significant strain on Ceuta’s infrastructure and resources, raising concerns about its capacity to accommodate the growing population.”
Source: Al Jazeera
