MOSCOW, July 31. /TASS/. On July 30, a crisis erupted in Spain as between 40,000 to 60,000 illegal migrants from Morocco flooded into the autonomous Spanish city of Ceuta on the northern coast of Africa. On Friday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez visited Ceuta as he characterized the influx of migrants as "an attack, a violation of the territorial integrity" of the kingdom.
Ceuta is a Spanish enclave on the North African coast. It is separated from mainland Spain by the Strait of Gibraltar and has a land border with Morocco. Originally a Portuguese city dating back to 1415, Ceuta went under Spanish rule in 1581 when Portugal was invaded by Spain. After Portugal gained independence in 1640, Ceuta chose to remain with Spain, and in 1668 Portugal recognized Spain’s ownership of the city. Ceuta has a population of some 80,000 people.
Migration crisis
Apart from Ceuta, Melilla, a larger autonomous Spanish city, is located on the North African coast, about 400 km from Ceuta. The two cities are the only EU territories with land borders with Africa, which is why these territories regularly become a source of disputes regarding the bloc’s migration policy.
Ceuta found itself amidst a migration crisis before. In 2021, between 8,000 to 10,000 illegal migrants poured into it amid tensions in relations between Rabat and Madrid. That crisis erupted after Spain admitted Brahim Ghali, the leader of Polisario Front seeking the independence of Western Sahara from Morocco, for medical treatment.
