Spain Erupts in Protests Over Ceuta Migrant Crisis

Thousands of people have taken to the streets across Spain to protest the government’s handling of a massive influx of migrants into Ceuta, the Spanish enclave on the North African coast.

The protests have put fresh pressure on Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, with opposition parties accusing his government of abandoning Ceuta residents while officials counter that the right wing is exploiting the crisis for political gain.

The demonstrations came as a police report raised fresh questions over Morocco’s role in the unprecedented border crossings. The report said Moroccan security forces showed “total permissiveness” as migrants made their way into Ceuta, contradicting Sánchez’s earlier insistence that Morocco was not responsible.

The Spanish government has instead blamed human trafficking networks and online misinformation for encouraging the mass crossings. Morocco has denied organising or facilitating the movement.

At least 72,000 migrants crossed from Morocco into Ceuta on July 30 and 31, according to the figures cited in the report. Although most have since returned, about 5,000 remain in makeshift camps, on the streets or along the beaches, fuelling tension in the autonomous city.

Local protests have been held almost daily, with demonstrators demanding that migrants be returned to their countries of origin or transferred to other parts of Spain.

Wednesday’s rallies were organised by local authorities in areas where Spain’s conservative Partido Popular (PP) and far-right Vox have strong support or control.

In Madrid, more than 50,000 people attended the protest, according to government figures. PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo joined the demonstration and accused the Sánchez administration of failing Ceuta.

“A Spanish city has been invaded, occupied,” Feijóo said, claiming the situation occurred with the knowledge of the Spanish government.

Vox leader Santiago Abascal also attacked Sánchez, accusing him of acting in the interest of Morocco.

In Ceuta, protesters gathered in large numbers, chanting, “Ceuta is not for sale, Ceuta must be defended.”

David Hernandez, a 45-year-old teacher who attended the Ceuta demonstration, said residents felt neglected by Madrid.

“The response has been inadequate, late and, to top it all, has involved a complete dereliction of duty on the part of the government,” he said.

The controversy deepened after Spanish media reported details from a document submitted by the National Police’s National Immigration and Borders Centre to the National Court.

According to the report, the Moroccan police presence around the border was “clearly smaller than usual” during the crossings. It also cited migrants who described the Moroccan security forces as taking a “passive attitude”.

The report, however, stopped short of directly accusing Morocco of orchestrating the influx.

Morocco’s longstanding claim over Ceuta and neighbouring Melilla has repeatedly strained relations between Rabat and Madrid, making the latest border crisis particularly sensitive.

Spanish authorities have also raised concerns over social media activity surrounding the crossings. A large number of posts circulated in August portraying the route into Ceuta as safe and easy, despite reports that at least 100 people died attempting to swim around the border fence, according to figures cited by the city’s mayor.

Spanish fact-checking platform Maldita also reported that messages had circulated on Moroccan social media before the July 30 crossings, encouraging people to attempt the journey following a June ruling by Spain’s Supreme Court.

The continuing presence of thousands of migrants and the political fallout have turned the Ceuta crisis into one of the most pressing challenges facing Sánchez’s government.