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CEUTA, Spain, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Hundreds of migrants set up camp on a beach in Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta on Monday as local authorities struggled to cope with the thousands still in the tiny territory after a massive border rush ‌last week.

Spain estimates that about 69,500 migrants have returned to Morocco over the past four days, exceeding initial estimates of around 50,000 arrivals in Ceuta on Thursday. The official death toll on the Spanish side of the border stands at 72, with 11 deaths on the Moroccan side.

Many said they left as shop closures had left them without food, they encountered hostility from locals and they were unable to travel on to the Spanish mainland.

Ceuta and Spain's other North African enclave, Melilla, sit on Morocco's Mediterranean coast and periodically face attempted crossings by migrants seeking to reach Europe.

Reuters video showed scores of migrants, most of them from sub-Saharan Africa, ⁠lying on the sand of El Trampolin beach. Many were wrapped in towels to shield from the wind, while army and police vehicles patrolled the road behind them.

Ceuta's leader Juan Jesus Vivas told broadcaster Telecinco between 3,000 and 5,000 migrants remained in the enclave, adding that its two migrant reception centres — one for adults and another for minors — had "collapsed".

Local official Alberto Gaitan said the city was processing 862 migrant minors, who enjoy special legal protections from deportation.

DIPLOMATIC FALLOUT
The crisis has fuelled anti-immigration rhetoric throughout Europe and sparked diplomatic tensions within the European Union over border policy, with Spain accusing some partners of an unhelpful and polarising response.

Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said on Monday that Spain had previously supported other EU countries during migration crises and now expected reciprocal backing.
The bloc has called an emergency video conference meeting of interior ministers to discuss the crisis on Tuesday.
Albares sharply criticised Italy's government, accusing it of helping amplify misinformation.

He said Morocco had immediately offered police support and had not attached conditions to its cooperation, allowing for the ‌rapid return ⁠of most of those who crossed.

But Ceuta's Vivas was critical of Rabat, saying there was a widespread perception within Ceuta that it had allowed — if not orchestrated — the crisis.

"Morocco has shown us that it isn't reliable. There's no alternative but to put in place whatever means are necessary to ensure it cannot do this again," Vivas told newspaper El Pais.
Morocco's Interior Ministry on Sunday blamed the surge on misinformation on social media, human trafficking networks and misinterpretation of a Spanish court ruling banning immediate returns of migrants intercepted at sea. That was in line with Madrid's official ⁠view.

INTELLIGENCE SERVICES UNDER SCRUTINY
According to reports by El Pais and Cadena SER radio, citing officials familiar with the matter, Spanish intelligence services have concluded that Morocco did not plan the mass crossing, but allowed it to happen.

Moroccan border controls were gradually relaxed during July and were allegedly removed as crowds surged toward the Tarajal crossing during Morocco's Throne Day holiday, the reports said.
Morocco's Interior Ministry ⁠did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In its Sunday statement, it said Morocco is "committed to strengthening international cooperation and coordination in combating irregular migration and human trafficking".
Spain's Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska told reporters on Saturday the foreign intelligence agency CNI, controlled by the Defence Ministry, did not warn him of an imminent surge. El Pais said ⁠on Monday that had caused tensions between the two ministries.
An Interior Ministry spokesperson downplayed the reported tensions.
Defence Minister Margarita Robles declined to say whether the CNI had any prior intelligence of the mass crossing, adding its work was secret and praising the "exceptional" work of Spanish security services personnel.
Reporting by Leonardo Benassatto, David Latona, Joan Faus, Ahmed El Jechtimi and Victoria Waldersee; Additional reporting by Corina Pons and Javi West Larrañaga; Writing by David Latona; Editing by Andrei Khalip and Sharon Singleton.

https://www.youtube.com/live/_dFllAhJT_c?si=VDbRgtFzfuho7EXn

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/spains-ceuta-overwhelmed-as-thousands-remain-after-migrant-border-rush-2026-08-03/

When I first stumbled upon this news, I thought the daredevils swam across the Mediterranean sea into the country. Only later that I discovered that these guys technically never left the continent. That town they're calling Spanish is in African territory, located physically and geographically on the African continent. If you don't want anybody trespassing in your "country", why not give the land back to the original owners?

Spanish colony in Morocco, you mean.

Invaded their country without ever leaving theirs

Nairaland and being late with news eh..this incident is almost a week na.. over 25k people have returned back na..I'm sure you will bring the news of their return next week

Spanish and not Spainish

The Spanish supreme court really messed up.

Naustine:
Nairaland and being late with news eh..this incident is almost a week na.. over 25k people have returned back na..I'm sure you will bring the news of their return next week

Almost all have returned

More than 50k have returned to Morocco

THE ARE PRACTICALLY STILL IN THE SAME MOROCCO.

THAT ISLAND belongs to morrocco and its in africa, theres nothing european about it

Muslim Jihadists and Africans will overrun and take over UK and Europe in 100 years from today, that will be UK/Europe's karma for destroying Africa through wicked amalgamation of opposite tribes into one country, especially West Africa, Nigeria in particular where they wickedly joined different tribes and ethnicities that share nothing in common as one country thereby creating one of the most difficult nation to govern due to extreme tribalism, religious division and lack of shared vision/goal

migrants set up camp on a beach in Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta on Monday as local authorities struggled to cope with the thousands still in the tiny territory after a massive border

dgitrader:
THE ARE PRACTICALLY STILL IN THE SAME MOROCCO.

THAT ISLAND belongs to morrocco and its in africa, theres nothing european about it

The whole of Morocco belongs to Africa, and it's in Africa
There is nothing Arab about it.

Those Arabs should also leave.

It's called an invasion.
The last time this group of people invaded Europe, it led to a crusade.

Houseofglam7:
Invaded their country without ever leaving theirs

They left the Middle East, Invaded Africa, and are now invading the land that Europe stole from Africa.

This story is old nairaland mods

Dominique, are you just hearing about this when most of them have already returned home.

franchasng:
Muslim Jihadist and Africans will overrun and take over UK and Europe in 100 years from today, that will be Europe's karma for destroying Africa, especially West Africa, Nigeria in particular where they wickedly joined different tribes and ethnicities that share nothing in common as one country thereby creating one of the most difficult nation to govern due to extreme tribalism, religious division and lack of shared vision/goal

Why do you think Trump is dealing with them

Fake news. That region was originally part of Morocco, Africa

Something that happened since 5days ago

Nairaland can do better.

Helinuse:
The whole of Morocco belongs to Africa, and it's in Africa
There is nothing Arab about it.

Those Arabs should also leave.

Even blacks migrated to Africa. All humans are from middle east. Let's not go that route bro

The fake news media has been lying that they have returned. This is jihad plain and simple. Trump has been warning Europe

dgitrader:
Even blacks migrated to Africa. All humans are from middle east. Let's not go that route bro

Oops
You want us to go that route for Spain
But not that route for the Arabs.


SMH for the Arabization of Africa, in the name of religion.
The conquered ones are ready to defend those who conquered them with all they have.

franchasng:
Muslim Jihadists and Africans will overrun and take over UK and Europe in 100 years from today, that will be UK/Europe's karma for destroying Africa through wicked amalgamation of opposite tribes into one country, especially West Africa, Nigeria in particular where they wickedly joined different tribes and ethnicities that share nothing in common as one country thereby creating one of the most difficult nation to govern due to extreme tribalism, religious division and lack of shared vision/goal

Best description of Nigeria 🙌.

Just imagine they are carrying ak47s.

Omoh! I no fit shout

Now i know why usa cant be ground invaded.

omooba969:
Dominique, are you just hearing about this when most of them have already returned home.

Dummynick is doing her best but the name affects everything she does

franchasng:
Muslim Jihadists and Africans will overrun and take over UK and Europe in 100 years from today, that will be UK/Europe's karma for destroying Africa through wicked amalgamation of opposite tribes into one country, especially West Africa, Nigeria in particular where they wickedly joined different tribes and ethnicities that share nothing in common as one country thereby creating one of the most difficult nation to govern due to extreme tribalism, religious division and lack of shared vision/goal

Funny that you guys think that when such a thing happens, the only result is that Europe is punished.


You fail to realize that at that moment, those who tried to conquer the whole of Africa, but failed, will not be with the most potent systems on earth (government, politics, military, weapons, money, etc.)

It won't stop with the Europeans.
They will surely return to finish what they started.

No one should ever support a takeover of anywhere by those people.

why is Morocco doing this? I thought their country is doing ok ?

Naustine:
Nairaland and being late with news eh..this incident is almost a week na.. over 25k people have returned back na..I'm sure you will bring the news of their return next week

I agree this is a stale news.

DapConsult:
Almost all have returned

More than 50k have returned to Morocco

Expect nairaland to post it next week

Sirleo05:
why is Morocco doing this? I thought their country is doing ok ?

No African country is doing OK.
South Africans jump around thinking that they are doing fine, only because they DON'T travel anywhere to see what is obtainable elsewhere.

When they do, just like Nigerians and Ghanaians, they will flee their own country.

dominique:
When I first stumbled upon this news, I thought the daredevils swam across the Mediterranean sea into the country. Only later that I discovered that these guys technically never left the continent. That town they're calling Spanish is in African territory, located physically and geographically on the African continent. If you don't want anybody trespassing in your "country", why not give the land back to the original owners?

and what would they do with it, develop it?
even if you give it back to them, in 5years that land will be a wasteland. Africans should deal with their own leaders.