Ceuta leader blames Morocco for mass border crossing, 69,500 migrants returned

Juan Jesús Vivas, the mayor of the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, said the mass crossing of migrants into the city last week appeared “if not orchestrated, at least encouraged or permitted by Morocco,” framing the episode as an attack on Spain’s territorial integrity. Spanish officials reported that roughly 69,500 people who entered Ceuta in the final days of the previous week have since been returned to Morocco, leaving an estimated 2,500 migrants still present in the enclave. The surge, which unfolded along the heavily fortified border that separates Ceuta from the Moroccan town of Benzú, has intensified long‑standing concerns that the North African kingdom is playing a role in amplifying migration pressures on the Spanish territory.

The incident has revived calls from Madrid for a coordinated European response, with the Spanish government urging EU member states to demonstrate solidarity and to address what it describes as a “migration flashpoint” on the continent’s southern edge. Analysts note that Ceuta, one of two Spanish enclaves on the African coast, has historically been a focal point for irregular migration toward Europe, and the latest influx underscores the fragility of existing border controls. As the situation stabilises, Spain is expected to press the European Union for additional resources and diplomatic engagement with Rabat to curb further crossings and to reinforce the enclave’s security.