Thousands of demonstrators have gathered in cities throughout Spain, including a massive turnout in Madrid, to voice their opposition to the government's management of the recent migrant influx into Ceuta. The Spanish exclave, located on the north African coast, has become the center of a significant political crisis for Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, with protesters demanding his resignation and calling for the migrants to be sent back to their home countries or redistributed across Spain.
Official government figures estimate that more than 50,000 people participated in the rally in Madrid. During the demonstration, People's Party (PP) leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo addressed the crowd, stating, "A Spanish city has been invaded, occupied and, unfortunately, this happened with the knowledge of the Government of Spain." Vox leader Santiago Abascal echoed these sentiments, accusing the Prime Minister of acting as a "lackey" for the Moroccan regime.
The unrest follows a dramatic period on July 30 and 31, when at least 72,000 migrants crossed the border from Morocco into Ceuta. While the majority of these individuals have since returned, approximately 5,000 remain in the city, living in makeshift camps or on the streets and beaches. Local residents have held near-daily protests, expressing feelings of abandonment and concern over the government's perceived inaction.
David Hernandez, a 45-year-old teacher, told Reuters that the official response has been "inadequate, late" and represented a "complete dereliction of duty."
The political pressure on Sánchez has mounted following a report submitted by the National Police's National Immigration and Borders Centre (CENIF) to the National Court. The document alleged that Moroccan security forces demonstrated "total permissiveness" during the surge, noting that the deployment around the border was "clearly smaller than usual" and citing accounts from migrants who described a "passive attitude" from Moroccan authorities.
While the report stopped short of categorically blaming Morocco for orchestrating the event, it has fueled opposition claims that the government failed to protect the border.
Prime Minister Sánchez has consistently denied that Morocco is responsible, instead attributing the crisis to trafficking gangs and online misinformation. Morocco has also denied any involvement in the mass crossing. However, the situation remains a flashpoint in diplomatic relations, exacerbated by Morocco's long-standing claim over Ceuta and the nearby city of Melilla.
According to the mayor of Ceuta, at least 100 people have died attempting to swim around the border fence, while the Spanish fact-checking site Maldita reported that social media posts encouraged the crossing following a June ruling by Spain's Supreme Court.
Large crowds gathered in the capital Madrid
Sexual assaults happening almost every day in Ceuta, prosecutors say
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