More than 72,000 migrants crossed into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta from Morocco on July 30 and 31, triggering widespread protests across Spain and a crisis for Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s government. Demonstrators, numbering over 50,000 in Madrid alone according to government figures, are calling for Sánchez’s resignation and the return of the migrants, or their redistribution across Spain. Opposition parties, including the Partido Popular (PP) and Vox, accuse Sánchez of abandoning Ceuta’s residents and allege Moroccan involvement in facilitating the mass crossing. A police report submitted to the National Court indicates that Moroccan security forces exhibited “total permissiveness” during the influx, with a reduced deployment around the border and reports of a “passive attitude” from Moroccan gendarmes, though it does not categorically accuse Morocco of orchestrating the event.
The Moroccan government denies involvement, while Sánchez initially blamed trafficking gangs and online misinformation. Approximately 5,000 migrants remain in Ceuta, residing in makeshift camps, on streets, or on beaches, leading to local unrest. Teacher David Hernandez told Reuters, “The response has been inadequate…We cannot be second-class citizens, and our border must not be sidelined.” PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo stated at the Madrid rally, “A Spanish city has been invaded, occupied and, unfortunately, this happened with the knowledge of the Government of Spain.” Vox leader Santiago Abascal claimed Sánchez was “at the service, like a lackey, of the Moroccan regime.” Spanish media reports also indicate near-daily occurrences of sexual assaults in Ceuta following the influx.
The situation is complicated by Morocco’s long-standing claim over Ceuta and Melilla, and the fact that Ceuta normally observes its annual holiday on September 2 largely ignored by mainland Spain. The crisis has intensified scrutiny of Sánchez’s government, with the police report adding to the pressure and raising questions about the extent of Moroccan involvement. While the majority of migrants have returned to Morocco, the remaining population and the political fallout continue to present challenges for Spanish authorities.
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