Chaos in Fnideq After Stampede: Burned Cars
After more than 50,000 people flooded into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, the neighboring Moroccan city of Fnideq has become a scene of despair, violence, and a humanitarian crisis.
After more than 50,000 people flooded into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, the neighboring Moroccan city of Fnideq has become a scene of despair, violence, and a humanitarian crisis.
As life in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta slowly returns to normal, the neighboring Moroccan city of Fnideq is descending into chaos. Following last week's unprecedented mass attempt to cross the border, the streets of this once-peaceful summer resort are filled with the sounds of sirens, police whistles, the stench of feces, and burned-out cars. Beaches are fenced off with barriers, and armed members of the Moroccan national police (Sûreté Nationale) are deployed on every corner and cliff, according to Index.hr, citing a report from Deutsche Welle.
In Fnideq, traces of the chaotic exodus are still visible: scattered belongings on the beaches, torn clothing, and exhausted groups of young men seeking shade. Many of them believed social media rumors that Ceuta was open to everyone and set off on a desperate journey toward a better life in Europe. Among them is 25-year-old Hamza from Tangier, who on Saturday again attempted to swim to the Spanish coast.
"I tried again, but when I got there, Spanish soldiers beat me, and then Moroccan police officers did too," Hamza told Index.hr, showing his torn pants and scrapes on his knees and elbows. Despite everything, he hasn't given up on his dream. "Things are getting harder, both for those who already made it to Ceuta and for us who are still here. The police want us to leave Fnideq; they want to empty the city so no one else tries to head to Ceuta," he added.
Stories from those who have returned testify to harsh conditions. Hajine, a 21-year-old student from Fez, who traveled to Fnideq by moped and then swam toward Ceuta, no longer wants to hear about another attempt. "I came back because they treated us like dogs. There was no food; all the shops were closed," a tearful Hajine told Index.hr. She added that in Ceuta she found her uncle and sister, who had crossed the border on foot with the crowd.
The atmosphere in Fnideq is tense. Many cafes and restaurants are closed for fear of looting, and those that are open refuse to serve young men. Some staff members themselves have left for Ceuta and haven't returned to work yet, so only coffee is available.
Spanish migration expert Beatriz Masa believes that such a mass movement was only possible with the tacit approval of the Moroccan authorities, linking it to the political crisis between Spain and Morocco, with Western Sahara as the main point of contention. "As soon as people heard that Ceuta was open, they dropped everything. Hotel staff, waiters, cooks, bakers, truck drivers, and taxi drivers-simply everyone set off," Masa told Index.hr.
She emphasized that this crisis is far more serious than the one in 2021. "This crisis is a new edition, but much more serious than the one in 2021. That's why the mobilization was much larger-we're talking about more than 50,000 people," Masa said.
While most migrants are returning home on their own, organized bus transport to their hometowns is expected for the rest, likely on the orders of Morocco's Ministry of the Interior. That ministry, like any other government official, has yet to publicly comment on the deadly event. Meanwhile, local merchants are already feeling the economic impact, and numerous tourists have canceled their summer vacations in Fnideq.
The political response is still pending. This week, European Union interior ministers will hold an emergency meeting to align a common stance toward Morocco, a key partner in migration management, with the aim of preventing a repeat of such scenes.
