Spain has deployed troops at Ceuta, a Spanish autonomous city on the North Coast of Africa, which is bordered by Morocco, after a record number of 6,000 migrants reached Ceuta from Morocco.
The migrants illegally swam into Spain’s Northern African Enclave of Ceuta. The migrants also include 1,500 minors. Of this, Spain has already sent back 2,700 adult migrants.
The Spanish troops are now patrolling the borders to stop the influx of migrants to Ceuta which has become a hotspot for African migrants. A total of 200 troops along with 200 extra police are assisting the Ceuta’s normal 1,100-strong border force. The enclave has some 80,000 inhabitants.
The Moroccan Security Forces at Fnideq town in Northern Morocco, fired tear gas to disperse a large crowd of migrants at the border fence.
Meanwhile, the President of Spain – Pedro Sanchez has cancelled his trip to Paris where he was supposed to attend a French Summit on providing financial aid to Coronavirus (COVID-19) struck Africa.
Taking it to twitter, Pedro Sánchez tweeted (translated from Spanish), “Today I will travel to Ceuta and Melilla to show the determination with which the Government of Spain is acting. We will restore order as quickly as possible. We will be firm to guarantee the safety of citizens in the face of any challenge and under any circumstance.” Original tweet in Spanish:
Hoy mismo viajaré a Ceuta y Melilla para mostrar la determinación con la que está actuando el Gobierno de España. Restableceremos el orden con la máxima celeridad. Seremos firmes para garantizar la seguridad de la ciudadanía ante cualquier desafío y bajo cualquier circunstancia. pic.twitter.com/dIUzSv7X8i
— Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) May 18, 2021
Sharing his thoughts, the President of European Council – Charles Michel tweeted (translated from Spanish), “All our support and solidarity with Spain @sanchezcastejon. The borders of Spain are the borders of the European Union. Cooperation, trust and shared commitments should be the principles of a strong relationship between the European Union and Morocco.” Original tweet in Spanish:
Todo nuestro apoyo y solidaridad con España @sanchezcastejon
— Charles Michel (@eucopresident) May 18, 2021
Las fronteras de España son las fronteras de la Unión Europea.
Cooperation, trust and shared commitments should be the principles of a strong relation between the European Union and Morocco.
Besides at Mellila, another enclave at Ceuta, 86 sub-Saharan Africans entered the territory via jetty. Many had used inflatable rings and rubber dinghies. The migrants comprised of several families and young men. Melilla has a formidable border fence and several hundred more migrants were blocked by security forces.
While some migrants threw stones at Spanish troops, the Moroccan guards helped the Spanish forces in Melilla. Last month, more than 100 migrants had arrived at Ceuta’s Tarajal entry point. Most were sent back, except about 30 minors whose age was confirmed by medical tests.
The arrival of migrants comes at a time when Morocco is having strained relations with Spain. Morocco is upset that Brahim Ghali, the current President of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) and former SADR Ambassador to Algeria who played a key role in the struggle of the Sahrawi people for self-determination and independence from Morocco, is getting treated at a hospital in Spain. Morocco has accused Spain of admitting Ghali under a false name, without informing Morocco.
