Ceuta in Crisis After Mass Border Crossing as Thousands of Migrants Return to Morocco

The Spanish enclave of Ceuta is facing the consequences of one of the most serious border crises in recent years, after tens of thousands of migrants crossed from Morocco into its territory in North Africa.

Authorities say that most of those who entered Spain have returned to Morocco on foot. Meanwhile, security forces continue checks in the areas surrounding the city and in the waters near the coast.

The death toll from attempts to cross the border has risen to at least 72. Some are believed to have drowned, while others lost their lives during clashes in the border area.

The situation escalated after thousands of people, mostly young, crossed the border barriers. Within a few days, this significantly increased the number of residents in Ceuta, a city with around 84,000 inhabitants. According to Moroccan authorities, some of the migrants had been influenced by false news online and human trafficking networks.

The developments have reopened discussions about immigration in Europe. Representatives of Spain’s far right also travelled to Ceuta, accusing the government of the way it had managed the border.

At the same time, some residents have appealed for the crisis not to become a source of division between communities. They have highlighted Ceuta’s history of coexistence among different cultures.

Pope Leo XIV has also responded to the situation. He expressed his concern and called for solutions based on peace, stability and justice.