RABAT — Moroccan authorities said Saturday they foiled a mass attempt by irregular migrants to cross from the northern city of Fnideq into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, amid heightened security along the border.
In a statement, the Fnideq governorate cited a security official as saying that an intensive and coordinated deployment of security forces around Ceuta and Melilla prevented mass crossing attempts, while conditions at the border crossings remained normal.
Around 300 irregular migrants, mostly from sub-Saharan African countries, gathered Saturday morning in mountainous areas surrounding Ceuta, the official said.
Security forces prevented them from approaching or entering the city, with no violent confrontations or material damage reported.
Authorities deployed significant personnel and advanced equipment, including surveillance drones and mobile units, to prevent any mass crossing, the official added.
Morocco had reinforced its security presence in Fnideq in recent days, with searches and heightened security measures continuing across the city.
The attempted crossing came on a date previously flagged by Morocco’s Interior Ministry following anonymous social media calls urging migrants to make a mass crossing into the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla.
The incident follows a major surge in attempted crossings into Ceuta late last month.
On Aug. 8, Morocco’s National Human Rights Council said the death toll from the crossing wave had reached 14, while Spanish figures put the number of fatalities at 80.
Moroccan authorities estimated that around 40,000 people attempted to cross, while Spanish authorities said the number exceeded 70,000.
Ceuta and Melilla are located on Morocco’s northern coast but are administered by Spain. Morocco claims sovereignty over both enclaves.
Source: Saudi Gazette