Spanish officials indicated the military would support the Civil Guard in securing the city following the large-scale breach that local leaders said had caused the border to collapse. The announcement followed a request for reinforcements from Ceuta authorities after the incident that saw crowds streaming across the frontier. Spain’s Interior Ministry added that Moroccan police were stopping numerous additional attempts and that both nations had agreed to expedite returns of those who crossed illegally.
Rachid Sbihi, who heads the association for Civil Guard officers at the Ceuta border, told The Associated Press the situation was one of absolute chaos with the border totally collapsed. «The situation is absolute chaos. It’s not possible to give precise numbers, but there are thousands of migrants crossing,» he said, adding that the border had «totally collapsed.» Achraf Maimouni, a member of the Moroccan Association for Human Rights in northern Morocco, described the events as exceptional and said the Tarajal border was opened under unusual circumstances that morning.
Spain’s government delegation in Ceuta stated at least nine people died Thursday during the chaos, with bodies visible in the water although specific causes were not detailed. The delegation noted that dozens of people have died this year in attempts to reach the Spanish territory. Video from the scene showed groups including families with small children walking onto local roads after passing the breakwaters, with some shouting «Viva España!»
The breach came one day after a surge in swimming attempts to the exclave, according to Spanish authorities. It remained unclear what specifically triggered the mass movement on this occasion. A Spanish Supreme Court ruling earlier in the month that limited immediate returns for sea arrivals was cited by some Ceuta officials as a possible factor, though Moroccan activists questioned whether migrants were aware of the decision.
The scenes echoed a major crisis in May 2021 when more than 8,000 migrants entered Ceuta over two days, an event that strained relations between Spain and Morocco over the treatment of a Polisario Front leader. Spain functions as one of Europe’s primary arrival points for migrants from Africa seeking improved economic prospects. Migrants frequently attempt the crossing by swimming roughly five kilometers from the Moroccan town of Fnideq or shorter distances from Belyounech.
A comparable tragedy occurred at Spain’s other North African enclave of Melilla in June 2022, when at least 23 migrants died during a mass border attempt according to Moroccan authorities while a Human Rights Watch assessment estimated the toll could reach 37. The latest incident has drawn international attention, with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni warning of potential suspension of the Schengen agreement with Spain in response to the migration pressures. Spanish and Moroccan cooperation on the issue continues as efforts focus on restoring border controls and processing those who arrived.
