Despite online calls: initially no new rush on Ceuta

Spanish North African exclave

Despite online calls: initially no new rush on Ceuta

Barbed wire, water cannons and patrol boats: After calls online for a new rush of migrants, border security around Ceuta is being massively increased. The feared chaos will not happen for the time being.

Fears of a new rush of migrants to the Spanish North African exclave Ceuta were not initially fulfilled. Despite calls on social networks for a repeat of the mass border crossing at the end of July this Saturday, the situation at the border and in the exclave was initially calm throughout the day. Spain and especially Morocco had significantly increased their security precautions in advance.

There was absolute silence at the border in the morning, a dpa reporter reported on site. “In the city center it’s something like a perfect world, you don’t notice any of this. You only occasionally see police and military patrolling,” he said. Groups of young migrants can only be seen in the outskirts. The state TV broadcaster RTVE and other Spanish media from the exclave also reported that the situation was largely relaxed.

By strengthening security measures, the authorities of both countries wanted to prevent a repeat of the events of the end of July, when, according to various estimates, up to 80,000 migrants arrived in Ceuta. The Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska recently emphasized again that the mass arrival at the time was an “extraordinary” event that would not be repeated.

A few days ago, the Interior Ministry in Morocco announced that it had arrested a group of people who were suspected of inciting new attempts to illegally enter the Spanish exclaves of Ceuta and Melilla. Calls for joint mass crossings on August 15 circulated on social media.

According to eyewitnesses, Moroccan security forces were heavily present around Ceuta and Melilla and prevented possible border crossings in advance. Hundreds of migrants, including many from sub-Saharan countries, were stopped near the border town of Fnideq, around 20 kilometers from Ceuta, and prevented from attempting to cross. According to the Interior Ministry in Rabat, 111 migrants without valid documents were arrested on Saturday.

Morocco had significantly increased its security precautions in the past few days. According to RTVE, additional barriers made of barbed wire and NATO wire were erected in Fnideq. Patrol boats monitor the coast and water cannons are available at the border. In addition, numerous checkpoints have been set up on the access roads.

Spain had also increased security precautions in light of the fears. There are now 880 national police officers on duty in Ceuta – 270 more than at the end of July. They are supported by around 2,000 soldiers and around 700 Civil Guard officers.