The recent migrant crisis in Ceuta, where tens of thousands of people attempted to enter Europe, has reignited questions about Spain's territories on the African continent and their sustainability.
Last week's mass influx of migrants into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, one of the European Union's two land borders with Africa, triggered a political earthquake in Europe and cast renewed light on a centuries-old historical peculiarity. As the EU faces the first major test of its new Migration Pact, the question remains: how did two Spanish cities, Ceuta and Melilla, end up on the coast of North Africa in the first place?
Spain's presence in North Africa dates back to the era when European powers were building their colonial empires. While Madrid has lost most of its overseas possessions over the centuries, these two enclaves, along with a group of rocky islets known as the Plazas de Soberanía (Chafarinas, Alhucemas, and Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera), have remained under its administration.
Morocco, which gained independence from France in 1956, regularly challenges Spanish sovereignty over these territories, referring to them as Sebtah and Melilah. For Rabat, it's a matter of territorial integrity; for Madrid, it's about historical rights and sovereignty that has endured for more than five centuries.
Morocco's claim to Ceuta and Melilla is primarily political in nature. Experts point out that the situation is somewhat comparable to Spain's claim to Gibraltar, the British overseas territory located on the opposite side of the Strait of Gibraltar. Both sides use historical arguments to justify their positions.
The relationship between Madrid and Rabat became further complicated in March 2022, when Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed support for Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara in a letter to the Moroccan king. This diplomatic move, though aimed at improving bilateral relations, did not change Spain's long-standing stance on its own enclaves.
Recent events have dramatically illustrated the vulnerability of these territories. According to various sources, between 40,000 and 60,000 people attempted to enter Ceuta. Channel News Asia cites a figure of 50,000 migrants, El País reports over 40,000, while Al Jazeera and UNIAN mention 60,000 people. More than 70 people lost their lives in the stampede, according to Politico, while Al Jazeera specifies that 72 migrants died.
Most of those who entered the city quickly returned to Morocco-security forces estimate that 73,500 people left the enclave. Local authorities estimate that between 3,000 and 5,000 migrants remain in Ceuta, including, according to Euronews, 862 unaccompanied minors. Al Jazeera reports that among those remaining are about 800 children. The city's reception center, with a capacity of 600 places, is completely overwhelmed.
Moroccan authorities announced on Sunday, August 2, 2026, that the mass border crossings were fueled by misinformation on social media, human trafficking networks, and misinterpretation of a Spanish court ruling. On the same day, hundreds of Ceuta residents protested against a planned far-right rally in the city.
Ceuta's president, Juan Vivas, sharply criticized Morocco. "Morocco has shown that it cannot be trusted; we must demand respect from it," Vivas told El País.
The crisis immediately tested the EU's new Migration Pact, which came into force in June 2026. Italy suspended Schengen arrangements with Spain for one month, while 22 of the 27 EU leaders, in a letter initiated by Italy and Denmark, called for strengthening external borders and warned against policies that could act as "pull factors" for migrants.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed on Monday, August 3, 2026, increasing support to Morocco. "Morocco is an important strategic partner, especially in our efforts to combat migrant smuggling and illegal migration," von der Leyen wrote. She added that the EU, in cooperation with Spain, could improve early warning systems for border management and increase technical and financial support to Morocco.
Ambassadors of the 27 EU member states met on Monday for talks lasting about two and a half hours. The Spanish envoy presented Madrid's version of events and criticized some capitals for spreading misinformation. Italy was particularly criticized after Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani suggested on social media that Spain's migrant regularization program automatically grants EU citizenship, which Madrid denied.
An emergency meeting of EU interior ministers is scheduled for Tuesday, August 4, 2026. It will be chaired by Irish Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan, with participation from officials from Frontex, the EU Asylum Agency, Europol, and the European External Action Service. The focus is expected to be on drawing lessons from the crisis and strengthening external border controls, rather than assigning blame.
Nevertheless, analysts warn of the pitfalls of relying on transit countries. Alberto-Horst Neidhardt, senior policy analyst at the European Policy Centre, told Channel News Asia: "Europe's increasing reliance on neighboring countries to control migration may reduce arrivals in the short term, but it can also give those countries significant political leverage."
Bram Frouws, director of the Mixed Migration Centre, warns of political risks. "The idea of the pact is control and solidarity among EU member states. But we've seen the opposite," he told Channel News Asia. "If the first major incident shows that the pact doesn't do much differently, that's politically risky." The European Commission is considering possible new migration measures as early as September 2026.
