Migration Crisis in Ceuta: More Than 1,500 Arrivals, 18 Migrants Dead and Diplomatic Clashes Between Madrid and Rome

The Spanish enclave of Ceuta in North Africa is facing an extraordinary influx of migrants. Over the past week, more than 1,500 people have entered the territory by swimming or scaling the border barrier separating Spain from Morocco. Authorities have described the situation as an unprecedented humanitarian crisis.

The death toll has risen over the past 24 hours after the bodies of 18 migrants were recovered from the sea. Several others are still believed to be missing. The president of Ceuta, Juan Jesús Vivas, said that around 2,000 migrants had entered the city over the past ten days and called for an immediate response from the Spanish government.

As part of efforts to manage the situation, the Spanish government has decided to deploy additional military personnel to support the Civil Guard in controlling the border. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said the government was taking urgent steps aimed at restoring control.

Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska is expected to travel to Ceuta to oversee the coordination of emergency measures. The visit will also serve to strengthen cooperation with the Moroccan authorities on managing migration flows and accelerating repatriation procedures.

The situation has also prompted reactions in Italy. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced that Rome was considering temporarily suspending the implementation of the Schengen Agreement with Spain. She argued that illegal immigration poses a threat to the security of Europe’s borders.

“These images show once again that uncontrolled immigration is a serious challenge for Europe. Italy is ready to use every instrument necessary to protect its borders and citizens,” Meloni said.

Following the Italian prime minister’s remarks, the Spanish Foreign Ministry summoned the Italian ambassador to Madrid to seek clarification on the position of the government in Rome.

Meanwhile, Spain and Morocco have traded accusations. Spanish police unions claim that the Moroccan authorities are not doing enough to prevent illegal crossings into Ceuta. Rabat has denied the allegations, attributing the mass crossings to criminal human-trafficking networks and stressing that cooperation with Spain remains good.

Spanish authorities believe that traffickers are also exploiting a recent ruling by Spain’s Supreme Court. The ruling restricted the immediate return of migrants at the border, which, according to the authorities, has encouraged an increase in crossing attempts.

Ceuta lies on the coast of North Africa and, together with Melilla, forms the only land border linking the European Union to the African continent. Its strategic location has made it one of the main crossing points for irregular migrants heading to Europe for years.