- Moroccan security forces have arrested nearly 300 migrants attempting to reach Spain's Ceuta amid heightened tensions.
- In response to calls for a mass crossing, security has been tightened at the Ceuta border.
- A senior Moroccan diplomat previously said that more than 20,000 Moroccan security personnel are deployed along the border with Ceuta each day, at a cost of hundreds of millions of dollars.
Moroccan security forces arrested 294 migrants from sub-Saharan Africa and 61 Moroccans accused of facilitating their attempts to reach Spain's Ceuta, as authorities tightened border security amid calls for mass crossings. This crackdown follows a recent surge in social media urging migrants to make the perilous journey.1
The latest arrests occurred after a previous crisis where tens of thousands of migrants rushed toward Ceuta, resulting in at least 90 deaths on both sides of the border, according to official reports. Human rights groups suggest the actual toll may be higher.
In response to the rising migration attempts, Moroccan and Spanish authorities have increased their security presence, limiting movement toward the area. A senior Moroccan diplomat noted that over 20,000 security personnel are deployed daily along the border with Ceuta, costing hundreds of millions of dollars.3
Thousands of migrants from across Africa travel to Morocco each year, fleeing conflict and poverty, with many aiming to reach Ceuta or Melilla, another Spanish exclave, in hopes of better economic opportunities in mainland Spain.
“The interior ministry did not respond to AP's questions about the latest arrests or the number of security personnel deployed. A senior Moroccan diplomat previously said more than 20,000 security personnel are deployed along the border daily, costing hundreds of millions of dollars.”
