By Emmanuel Nduka Obisue
Hundreds of migrants rushed towards Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta from Morocco on Thursday, with at least 18 people reported dead after attempting the dangerous crossing, prompting Spain and Morocco to tighten efforts to curb the surge.
Spanish authorities said hundreds of migrants swam into Ceuta on Thursday, adding to about 1,500 others who had reached the territory in recent days, marking one of the biggest waves of irregular migration into the enclave in years.
The rush was fuelled by rumours that the Bab Sebta border crossing had been opened, drawing large crowds to the Moroccan border town of Fnideq. An AFP journalist reported seeing hundreds of people converging on the town, with vehicles packed with young migrants arriving from different parts of Morocco, while many others trekked on foot in hopes of reaching Spain.
One young man carrying a backpack said he had walked from Tangier, about 70 kilometres away, after hearing claims that the border had been opened.
Although Moroccan authorities have yet to issue an official statement on the influx, an anonymous Moroccan official told AFP that Rabat and Madrid had already discussed the situation.
According to the official, both countries agreed to strengthen coordination to manage the migrant flows and expedite the repatriation of those who entered Ceuta illegally.
Migration into Spain’s North African enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla has long been a source of diplomatic tension between Morocco and Spain, with thousands of migrants periodically attempting dangerous crossings by land or sea in search of better opportunities in Europe.
The latest tragedy underscores the deadly risks many migrants continue to face as they attempt to reach European territory across the Mediterranean and surrounding coastal routes.
