Spain is deploying military forces to its North African enclave of Ceuta after thousands of mostly male migrants crossed into the territory from Morocco, with officials reporting at least nine deaths during the border chaos. The Spanish government announced Thursday that the Armed Forces would assist the Civil Guard to “maintain security in the city of Ceuta” after local authorities requested additional support as the situation at the border rapidly escalated.
Ceuta officials had warned that migrant reception facilities were already overwhelmed after more than 1,500 people entered the territory in the previous week. The situation became extremely serious when hoards breached the border area, with crowds seen crossing through the Tarajal beach area and moving onto nearby roads. Videos show the swaths of invading migrants in violent clashes with authorities.
“The situation is absolute chaos,” Rachid Sbihi, head of the association representing Spanish Civil Guard officers stationed at the border, told The Associated Press. “It’s not possible to give precise numbers, but there are thousands of migrants crossing,” he said, adding that the border had “totally collapsed.”
Video footage showed large groups of migrants, overwhelmingly young men but apparently including families and children according to the Associated Press, entering Ceuta from Morocco. Some migrants could be heard shouting “Viva España!” as they crossed.
Spain’s government delegation in Ceuta said nine people died during the events, though officials did not provide details on how the deaths occurred. Bodies were seen floating in the water, and local authorities said dozens of people have died this year attempting to reach the territory.
Leftist Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is expected to visit Ceuta alongside Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska following the deployment announcement. The Interior Ministry said Morocco is cooperating with Spanish authorities and that both countries agreed to work toward the “return, as soon as possible, of all the people who entered Ceuta illegally.”
Achraf Maimouni, from the Moroccan Association for Human Rights in northern Morocco, described the situation as unusual. “The Tarajal border was opened under unusual circumstances this morning and people crossed,” he said.
Ceuta regional leader Juan Jesús Vivas had called on Madrid to declare a national emergency and send additional forces to the border, arguing the territory needed more support to protect the frontier and public safety.
The Spanish government rejected the emergency declaration request, saying migration flows are not classified as a national security emergency under existing legislation. Officials said government agencies were coordinating a response. Ceuta has been a Spanish possession since 1580 and is separated from Morocco by a heavily guarded border fence. The territory has experienced previous migrant surges, including in 2021 when more than 8,000 people entered over a two-day period.
Ceuta officials had warned that migrant reception facilities were already overwhelmed after more than 1,500 people entered the territory in the previous week. The situation became extremely serious when hoards breached the border area, with crowds seen crossing through the Tarajal beach area and moving onto nearby roads. Videos show the swaths of invading migrants in violent clashes with authorities.
“The situation is absolute chaos,” Rachid Sbihi, head of the association representing Spanish Civil Guard officers stationed at the border, told The Associated Press. “It’s not possible to give precise numbers, but there are thousands of migrants crossing,” he said, adding that the border had “totally collapsed.”
Video footage showed large groups of migrants, overwhelmingly young men but apparently including families and children according to the Associated Press, entering Ceuta from Morocco. Some migrants could be heard shouting “Viva España!” as they crossed.
Spain’s government delegation in Ceuta said nine people died during the events, though officials did not provide details on how the deaths occurred. Bodies were seen floating in the water, and local authorities said dozens of people have died this year attempting to reach the territory.
Leftist Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is expected to visit Ceuta alongside Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska following the deployment announcement. The Interior Ministry said Morocco is cooperating with Spanish authorities and that both countries agreed to work toward the “return, as soon as possible, of all the people who entered Ceuta illegally.”
Achraf Maimouni, from the Moroccan Association for Human Rights in northern Morocco, described the situation as unusual. “The Tarajal border was opened under unusual circumstances this morning and people crossed,” he said.
Ceuta regional leader Juan Jesús Vivas had called on Madrid to declare a national emergency and send additional forces to the border, arguing the territory needed more support to protect the frontier and public safety.
The Spanish government rejected the emergency declaration request, saying migration flows are not classified as a national security emergency under existing legislation. Officials said government agencies were coordinating a response. Ceuta has been a Spanish possession since 1580 and is separated from Morocco by a heavily guarded border fence. The territory has experienced previous migrant surges, including in 2021 when more than 8,000 people entered over a two-day period.
