Spain: more than 200 migrants enter Melilla enclave

More than 200 migrants from sub-Saharan Africa managed on Thursday morning to cross the high fence marking the border between Melilla and Morocco and enter the Spanish enclave, one of the most massive arrivals in recent years, said the Spanish authorities. This arrival occurs a little over two months after an unprecedented wave of migration in the other Spanish enclave located in the north of Morocco, Ceuta.

Ceuta was then overwhelmed by the sudden arrival of more than 10,000 migrants, the vast majority of Moroccan young people and adolescents, against the backdrop of a major diplomatic crisis between Rabat and Madrid.

In total, more than 300 people tried to climb Thursday, shortly before 7:00 am, the metal fence marking the border between Morocco and Melilla, provided with "hooks", said the prefecture of the enclave in a statement.

Placed in quarantine

Despite the heavy police presence, 238 men managed to enter Melilla.

Three police officers were slightly injured and the migrants were transferred to a residence center, where they will remain in quarantine due to the health situation, specifies the prefecture.

Melilla and Ceuta, the European Union's only land borders with Africa, have been subjected for years to strong migratory pressure.

Attempts to cross the several-meter-high fences of these two enclaves, which sometimes result in deaths, are quite frequent but the passage of more than 200 people on Thursday is one of the most important in recent years in Melilla.

By July 12, 119 migrants from sub-Saharan Africa had successfully crossed the fence.

In October 2018, a migrant was dead and 19 injured after crossing the fence with around 200 people.

Unprecedented migratory wave in May in Ceuta

By mid-May, more than 10,000 migrants, mostly Moroccans, had entered, this time by sea or by the dike marking the border, into the other enclave of Ceuta.

This exceptional migratory wave took place in the context of a major diplomatic crisis between Madrid and Rabat, caused by the reception in Spain, to be treated for Covid, of the leader of the Sahrawi separatists of the Polisario Front, Brahim Ghali, sworn enemy of Rabat. .

Tensions between Rabat and Madrid

The exchanges had been muscular between the two countries, Madrid accusing in particular Morocco of "aggression" and "blackmail".

Brahim Ghali left Spain in early June for Algeria, support of the Polisario, but relations between Madrid and Rabat remain tense.

In Melilla, the border is marked by a triple fence approximately 12 km long.

Like that of Ceuta, it has video cameras and watchtowers.

Work has been undertaken to replace the fences with a smoother facade, leaving very few holds for climbing.

Spain has exercised its sovereignty over Ceuta since 1580 and over Melilla since 1496. Morocco considers them to be integral parts of its national territory.

Located 150 km from Algeria, Melilla (12.5 km2) had a population of over 87,000 inhabitants at the end of 2020.