Moroccan police arrest over 100 migrants trying to reach Spanish enclave
Al Jazeera
β’Sat, 15 Aug 2026 19:46:20 +0000
π° What Happened
Moroccan police arrested more than 100 people who were trying to reach Ceuta. Ceuta is a Spanish enclave on the north coast of Africa. Footage posted online on Saturday showed large crowds heading toward the city. Most of the people were reportedly from sub-Saharan Africa. They travelled through the mountains to avoid security checkpoints. Hundreds of police were deployed to stop them. Police reportedly used tear gas to disperse the crowds.
π The Backstory
The attempted crossing came just weeks after more than 70,000 people fled into Ceuta. Many people died during that mass influx. There is also a disinformation campaign on social media that encourages people to flock to the city. Morocco does not recognise Ceuta as Spanish territory. Moroccan authorities said earlier this week they were working to foil any such attempts. The migrants moved through Fnideq, a coastal town in northern Morocco. The mountain route was chosen to bypass security.
π― Why It Matters
This shows how migration in North Africa remains a huge and dangerous challenge. It also shows how social media campaigns can push people into risky journeys along the Europe-Africa border.
Moroccan police arrested more than 100 people who were trying to reach Ceuta. Ceuta is a Spanish enclave on the north coast of Africa. Footage posted online on Saturday showed large crowds heading toward the city. Most of the people were reportedly from sub-Saharan Africa. They travelled through the mountains to avoid security checkpoints. Hundreds of police were deployed to stop them. Police reportedly used tear gas to disperse the crowds.
The attempted crossing came just weeks after more than 70,000 people fled into Ceuta. Many people died during that mass influx. There is also a disinformation campaign on social media that encourages people to flock to the city. Morocco does not recognise Ceuta as Spanish territory. Moroccan authorities said earlier this week they were working to foil any such attempts. The migrants moved through Fnideq, a coastal town in northern Morocco. The mountain route was chosen to bypass security.
This shows how migration in North Africa remains a huge and dangerous challenge. It also shows how social media campaigns can push people into risky journeys along the Europe-Africa border.