Hundreds swim to Spain's Ceuta in one of Morocco's biggest migration attempts

Hundreds of Moroccans plunged into the Mediterranean this week, clutching inflatable rings, plastic jerrycans and makeshift flotation devices as they swam towards the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, transforming one of Europe's most fortified borders into a desperate crossing driven by hopes of a better life.

An estimated 2,000 to 3,000 people reached or attempted to reach the North African enclave according to Spanish media, in one of the largest irregular migration attempts from Morocco this year, overwhelming local authorities and prompting Madrid to coordinate with Rabat on returning many of those who crossed.

Videos shared by Moroccan and Spanish media showed men, women and children wading into the sea before swimming across the narrow stretch of water separating Morocco from the Spanish territory. Others breached the El Tarajal border crossing on foot, while groups of young migrants celebrated after reaching European soil, flashing peace signs and embracing one another.

One widely shared video showed a man carrying his elderly mother on his back as they emerged from the sea and made their way along Ceuta's coastline.

Officials in Ceuta said reception centres were overwhelmed by the sudden influx. The enclave, home to around 83,500 people, was placed on high alert as police, ambulances and emergency services responded across the city, while the local administration appealed to Madrid to declare a state of emergency.

On Thursday, Spanish authorities said it would dispatch soldiers to Ceuta by "reinforcing the Civil Guard in the exercise of its powers and any others that may be necessary to maintain security in the city," the ministry of interior said.

It did not specify how many soldiers would be sent to the small territory of 18.5 square kilometres, but said the Civil Guard's strength there would be nearly doubled from the current level of 80.

It will also send diving teams and coastguard ships, following reports that nine bodies who tried to reach the autonomous city were recovered.

Earlier, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said the government was "fully committed to providing an immediate response" and was mobilising resources while coordinating with Moroccan authorities to restore normality.

Spain's Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska was expected to travel to Ceuta on Friday, with Spanish media reporting that Rabat and Madrid had already reached an agreement to begin returning migrants as quickly as possible. Grande-Marlaska also accused migrant smuggling networks of exploiting a recent court ruling limiting the immediate return of people intercepted while swimming to the enclave.

The Mayo-President of Ceuta, Juan Vivas, said on Wednesday that 1,500 migrants had come to the enclave by sea in the past few days.

"There is no more room for anyone," he told Spanish television.

The scenes evoked the migration crisis of May 2021, when more than 8,000 people crossed into Ceuta within 48 hours, triggering one of the biggest diplomatic disputes between Spain and Morocco in recent years.

Ceuta and the nearby Spanish enclave of Melilla have long served as gateways into Europe for Moroccans and migrants from across sub-Saharan Africa. Although administered by Spain, both territories are claimed by Morocco, which regards them as colonial remnants, while Madrid insists they have formed part of Spain for centuries.

'Fuelled by frustration'

The events of the last days can be explained by two major factors: the geopolitical relations between Morocco and Spain; and the push and pull migration factors, Elisa Brey, professor at University Complutense of Madrid and expert in international migrations told The New Arab.

These push factors include "claims for major rights, discontent with the political and economic situation" of Morocco. As for pull factors, these an include Spain's "economic growth, and the potential regularisations of irregular migrants, among others," Brey explained.

The migration expert added that this week's events could be an example of coercive engineered migration (CEM) carried out by Moroccan authorities to "establish a tradeoff of sovereignty claims" over the Spanish exclave city and the Western Sahara territory, as it might have done in 2021. This can only be confirmed should there be any "consequences on the political position of the Spanish government towards Morocco during the next weeks," she added.

This week's migration attempts also "highlight a disconnect between Morocco’s youth and their economic reality," she said, given the high levels of economic stagnation and high unemployment rates. Around 37% for those aged 15 to 24 in Morocco are unemployed, according to a 2025 survey.

"For these young people, migration is not a choice but a survival strategy, fuelled by the frustration of being educated yet marginalised in a economy that cannot absorb them."

This week's crossings coincided with Morocco's Throne Day celebrations marking the 27th anniversary of King Mohammed VI's accession. In his annual televised address, the monarch highlighted national development, stability and Morocco's international standing.

Despite Morocco's reputation as one of North Africa's more politically stable countries, persistent youth unemployment, limited economic opportunities and restrictions on political freedoms have continued to drive many to risk dangerous journeys in search of a future in Europe.

Moroccan authorities said they prevented more than 73,000 irregular migration attempts in 2025 alone. Last autumn, youth-led protests erupted across the country over deteriorating public services, unemployment and government spending linked to preparations for the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

To reverse such migration attempts, Brey stressed that Morocco must work towards "creating jobs and investing in the country's northern regions, expanding social safety nets is crucial to support unemployed and NEET youths to prevent them from falling into the desperation that drives irregular migration, and be open towards genuine political dialogue".

"Without these structural changes, border security will only act as a temporary barrier to a demographic and social tide that is determined to cross."