Mass Return to Morocco
The unprecedented surge of migrants into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta has largely reversed, with Madrid confirming that the “vast majority” of the tens of thousands who crossed from Morocco have now returned. Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska, dispatched urgently to the North African territory, declared on Saturday that the situation was “almost entirely reversed.” Regional president Juan Jesus Vivas had earlier estimated that roughly 60,000 people, predominantly young Moroccan men and adolescents, had entered Ceuta illegally since the start of the week by land and sea.
A Humanitarian Toll and Bitter Disillusionment
The chaotic exodus came at a steep human cost. Minister Grande-Marlaska announced that at least 67 migrants died attempting to enter Ceuta, describing the events as “sad and dramatic.” The Moroccan Association for Human Rights (AMDH) contested this figure, reporting “nearly 130 victims” and dozens of missing persons. The organization demanded an independent investigation into the circumstances of the crisis and condemned the “worrying silence” of Moroccan authorities, suggesting the mass movement could not have occurred without official complicity.
On the ground, the dream of reaching Europe quickly soured for many. Returning migrants described a harrowing experience of deprivation and hostility inside Ceuta, where most shops were shuttered. “I stayed two days without eating. They closed all the businesses to starve us,” said Youssef, a 27-year-old lifeguard who was turned back. Another returnee, Mohamed, recounted being chased with sticks and spending a night in a forest. The disillusionment was summed up by Soufiane, a 42-year-old security guard who earns just 10 euros a day in Morocco: “An invasion? No, it’s a lie People want to come because there is no future in Morocco.”
Europe’s Fractured Response
The crisis has ignited a fierce political firestorm within the European Union, exposing deep fractures over migration policy and border security. Twenty-two EU leaders, spearheaded by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her Danish counterpart Mette Frederiksen, demanded an emergency video conference of interior ministers. In a sharply worded open letter, the group insisted that “massive and uncontrolled crossings” and the “instrumentalization of migration” cannot be tolerated.
“The line that Italy has defended for a long time is now shared by an ever-growing number of European nations. The defense of the Union’s external borders is not the interest of a single nation. It is a common European responsibility,” Meloni stated. The demand came as Italy temporarily suspended Schengen area rules with Spain, and Frederiksen suggested the EU should consider suspending Schengen cooperation with Madrid altogether.
Madrid Pushes Back Against “Selfish” Criticism
The criticism drew a furious response from Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who denounced the “selfish” attitude of certain member states. In a letter to EU institutional chiefs, Sanchez argued that such behavior, “motivated by prejudice, misinformation, ignorance, or political interests,” is contrary to European law, humanitarian principles, and the bloc’s long-term interests. France, however, offered a measure of support, with Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez stating it was “absolutely out of the question” for Spain to leave the Schengen zone and pledging to maintain reinforced border controls “for as long as it takes.”
The EU’s rotating Irish presidency has scheduled the requested videoconference of interior ministers for Tuesday to address the developments in Ceuta and the ensuing diplomatic tensions. While Minister Grande-Marlaska cautioned that the crisis could not yet be considered over, he emphasized that the evolution on the ground was “very significant” and that a return to normalcy was underway.
