Spain to Deploy Military to Restore Order in Ceuta
Qwenews.com – Spain to deploy military to restore order in Ceuta following a major border breach that saw thousands of migrants flood into the Spanish enclave. The decision comes after local authorities requested reinforcements from Madrid to address a mounting crisis that erupted Thursday when large crowds overwhelmed the border fence. Spain’s government confirmed it would dispatch Armed Forces personnel to assist the Civil Guard in maintaining security throughout the city. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska are scheduled to visit Ceuta on Friday to assess the situation firsthand.
Border Collapse Sparks Mass Crossing
“The situation is absolute chaos,” explained Rachid Sbihi, who leads the association representing Spain’s Civil Guard officers in Ceuta. He noted that while precise figures remain unavailable, thousands of migrants are crossing through the Tarajal border, which has “totally collapsed.” Achraf Maimouni from the Moroccan Association for Human Rights characterized the event as exceptional, confirming that the border opened under unusual circumstances allowing people to pass through. Video evidence captured crowds—predominantly Moroccans—walking across the breakwaters at Tarajal beach and onto nearby roads.
While most of those crossing were young men, families with women and small children were also present. Some individuals shouted “Viva España!” to a freelance AP photographer. The exact trigger for this mass movement remains unclear, though officials are investigating various possibilities.
International Cooperation and Legal Context
The border escalation follows a Wednesday surge of migrants attempting to reach Ceuta primarily by swimming. At least three fatalities were reported among those trying to cross by sea, according to Sbihi and activists from both nations. Moroccan authorities have maintained silence on the matter, with the interior ministry declining to comment. Meanwhile, Spain’s interior ministry stated that Morocco is “closely cooperating” by stopping numerous would-be crossers. Both governments agreed to work toward the prompt return of all individuals who entered Ceuta illegally.
Spain’s interior ministry clarified that while it would protect citizens and maintain border integrity, a national emergency declaration was not feasible despite local requests. Ceuta officials attributed the surge partly to a Spanish Supreme Court ruling issued earlier this month, which established that sea arrivals cannot be immediately pushed back without due process—unlike land crossings over the fence. However, some Moroccan activists questioned whether this legal change truly drove the migration wave, suggesting most migrants likely remained unaware of such decisions.
Spain serves as a primary European destination for migrants seeking improved economic prospects or fleeing violence. Those heading to Ceuta typically swim approximately 3.1 miles (5 kilometers) from Fnideq, while others depart from the closer town of Belyounech. These dramatic scenes echo the May 2021 border crisis when over 8,000 migrants entered Ceuta within just two days—a period when Morocco faced accusations of relaxing border controls following Spain’s decision to allow Polisario Front leader Brahim Ghali medical treatment in a Spanish hospital.
The pro-independence Polisario Front has long asserted its role as the legitimate voice of the Sahrawi people in the Western Sahara territory contested by Morocco. Juan Jesús Vivas, Ceuta’s regional government head, urged the national government to declare a security emergency, requesting additional police presence and military deployment to “guarantee the inviolability of the frontier and citizen safety.” He had previously warned that reception facilities were strained, with hundreds sleeping outdoors after more than 1,500 migrants arrived in the preceding week. Thousands more crossed during the overnight hours and on Thursday.
Spain’s interior ministry, responsible for monitoring irregular migration patterns, declined to confirm exact numbers of recent arrivals but promised to release its next migration report with updated statistics.
