A group of migrants make their way back to Morocco from the short-stay centre CETI towards the border post, escorted by Spanish infantry soldiers, in the Spain’s north African enclave of Ceuta, on August 2, 2026. At least 72 people died during the mass influx in recent days of migrants into Spain’s Ceuta enclave, when tens of thousands of people mostly swam around the border post from Morocco, local officials said today. Most of the estimated 60,000 people who rushed into Spain’s north African territory have returned to Morocco since the territory’s largest mass migrant crossing. (Photo by Henry NICHOLLS / AFP)
Witnesses and experts have suggested to AFP that an easing of controls by Morocco in the border area of Ceuta contributed to the recent mass influx of migrants into the Spanish enclave.
If so, what interests could Rabat have been trying to advance?
Here is what we know:
– Did Morocco deliberately ease controls? –
