Morocco holds over 100 migrants near Ceuta border

Moroccan security forces have intercepted over 100 migrants attempting to approach the border of the Spanish North African exclave of Ceuta near the town of Fnideq, known in Spanish as Castillejos, according to Moroccan security sources cited by Spanish media and Reuters.

Security sources said 111 people were detained roughly 3km from the border, most of them from sub-Saharan Africa. Moroccan police, some equipped with riot gear, reportedly used tear gas to disperse groups gathered on nearby hills.

Background

The detentions come after Morocco's government said earlier in the week it was monitoring social media posts calling for a new mass border crossing, warning it would prosecute organisers and participants. Security in the area had already been increased following an earlier incident in which about 78,000 migrants arrived in Ceuta by sea within hours, roughly two weeks prior. The city's mayor said 100 of those migrants died, and that most of the arrivals have since returned to Morocco.

EU tensions

The crisis, which began in late July, has strained relations among Schengen-area countries. Italy suspended free-movement arrangements with Spain and introduced border checks on arrivals from Spain, a move backed by Finland and Denmark, while the Czech Republic called for Spain's Schengen membership to be temporarily suspended. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez pointed out that Ceuta lies outside the Schengen area, meaning migrants had not technically entered mainland Spain. Spain introduced its own border checks after Italy refused to lift its controls, citing the risk of a new influx on 15 August. Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on Saturday his country had feared a new wave of arrivals in Ceuta and that its controls were not directed against Spain.