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Moroccan authorities have intercepted over 1,100 migrants near the Spanish exclaves of Ceuta and Melilla. The migrants were attempting to cross the border into Spain from Morocco. The incident occurred on the first day of the new year, according to reports1. The migrants were mostly from sub-Saharan Africa, and it is unclear what their final destination was.
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The Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla have become magnets for African migrants in recent years. In May 2021, Spanish troops were deployed when thousands of migrants entered Ceuta, a Spanish North African enclave. At least 6,000 migrants reached Ceuta from neighboring Morocco, a record number over a single day, Spanish officials said2. The influx comes amid renewed tension over Western Sahara, a territory occupied by Spain until 1975, when Morocco annexed it. Since then, it has been disputed between Morocco and the indigenous Sahrawi people, led by the Polisario Front2.
The Moroccan authorities have been working to prevent illegal migration to Europe, and this latest interception is part of their efforts. The migrants were stopped before they could cross the border into Spain, and it is unclear what will happen to them next. The incident highlights the ongoing issue of illegal migration from Africa to Europe, and the challenges that both Morocco and Spain face in dealing with it1.
