Ceuta: Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced that his government is mobilizing all available resources after thousands of migrants attempted to cross into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta from neighboring Morocco. At least 18 migrants died while attempting to swim to Ceuta, as reported by the El Pais daily.
According to Anadolu Agency, local media previously reported that over 1,500 migrants had reached Ceuta from Morocco over the past week, with many swimming across the border while others crossed on foot. The exact number of arrivals has yet to be officially confirmed. Prime Minister Sanchez stated, "The Government of Spain is fully committed to providing an immediate response to the situation in Ceuta," in a post on the US social media platform X.
Sanchez emphasized that Spain is deploying "all necessary resources," collaborating with Moroccan and international authorities, and preparing measures to "restore normality as soon as possible." He also mentioned that he had communicated the government's response to Ceuta's regional president, Juan Vivas, underscoring the need for solutions built on responsibility and cooperation.
The Spanish government further announced the deployment of armed forces to assist the Civil Guard in maintaining security across the city. Sanchez and Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska plan to travel to Ceuta on Friday to assess the situation firsthand.
The decision to deploy additional resources follows a request from Ceuta's local authorities for more support from the central government in Madrid, as a border crisis that had been escalating reached a breaking point. Thousands of migrants gathered near the border separating the Moroccan city of Castillejos from Ceuta in an apparent coordinated attempt to enter the Spanish territory, as reported by Spain's EFE news agency.
EFE detailed that hundreds of migrants climbed over border fences while others headed toward the breakwater and entered the sea in an effort to reach Ceuta. Moroccan security forces established cordons in some areas and detained several people, although many groups continued advancing toward the border. The mass movement coincided with celebrations marking the 27th anniversary of the enthronement of King Mohammed VI, while Moroccan authorities have stated they do not know what triggered the large-scale gathering at the border.