Moroccan authorities arrested 294 migrants and 61 other individuals near the border of the Spanish exclave of Ceuta on Saturday, according to state media reports. The detentions occurred amid an increased security presence in the region following a large-scale border crossing event two weeks prior.
Moroccan state broadcaster Medi 1 TV reported that the migrants were from sub-Saharan Africa and were attempting to enter Ceuta by land and sea. The 61 others arrested were Moroccan nationals accused of facilitating the border crossing attempts.
The increased security measures by both Spanish and Moroccan authorities followed a mass crossing into Ceuta that took place two weeks ago. Official figures stated that at least 90 people died during that event, though some human rights groups have reported higher numbers. The security buildup also came in response to social media posts that called for new attempts to cross into the Spanish city.
On Sunday, hundreds of migrants who remained in Ceuta after the previous crossing held a demonstration on a city beach. Protesters urged Spanish authorities to grant them asylum and prevent their return to Morocco. They held banners with messages such as, “We don’t want to go back to Morocco,” and chanted slogans, according to The Associated Press.
Ayoub Elarroud, a migrant from Tetouan, Morocco, described the living situation to the Reuters news agency. “We’re sleeping next to the sea, with cold and bad smells. We’re suffering a lot,” he said.
Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska stated earlier this week that migrants who had entered the exclave irregularly would not be allowed to remain, travel to mainland Spain, or obtain legal status, with exceptions for rare cases involving extreme vulnerability.
A senior Moroccan diplomat previously informed The Associated Press that more than 20,000 Moroccan security personnel are deployed daily along the border with Ceuta. Morocco serves as a major transit point for migrants from African countries seeking entry into Europe. Many attempt to reach either Ceuta or Melilla, Spain’s two North African exclaves, as a route to mainland Europe.
