Will the "Ceuta Crisis" Repeat on August 15?... Spain Strengthens Military Vigilance

Signs of Another Mass Border Crossing Detected
Spain Cancels All Military Leave in Ceuta
Government Warns: "All Illegal Migrants Will Be Deported"

At the end of last month, there is growing concern that the so-called "Ceuta crisis," in which more than 72,000 migrants crossed en masse from Morocco in Africa to Ceuta, a Spanish territory, could be repeated on August 15 (local time). As calls to attempt another mass border crossing circulated primarily on Instagram, the Spanish government has significantly stepped up border security.

Jose Manuel Alvarez, Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, is holding a press conference on the 11th (local time) in Ceuta, Spanish territory. Photo by EPA Yonhap News

According to Euronews and Anadolu Agency on August 11, Spain's Ministry of Defense has strengthened its state of alert by canceling the leave and outing permissions of military personnel stationed in Ceuta. This measure has been applied to infantry, cavalry, engineering, artillery, logistics, and medical units. The civil defense force has also suspended new leave and various permissions for members stationed in Ceuta and nearby Melilla.

These measures are a response to concerns that the Ceuta crisis that occurred on July 30–31 could recur in just two weeks. Recently, posts on social media platforms such as Instagram have been spreading the idea of crossing the Ceuta border en masse again on August 15. These posts are reportedly being disseminated with the hashtag "Haraga," a term referring to North African migrants attempting to enter Europe illegally.

Spain's Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Alvarez visited Ceuta and warned residents from Morocco and other African regions, “Do not risk your life on an adventure that is bound to fail.” He also stated, “Every person who enters Spain illegally will be returned to Morocco without exception,” adding that deportation procedures are currently being carried out with the Moroccan government. He emphasized that among the migrants who entered Ceuta last month, none have moved on to mainland Spain or other parts of Europe.

On the 7th (local time), young migrant youths were sleeping in a park in Ceuta following the Ceuta incident. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

Following the Ceuta crisis last month, it is estimated that about 10,000 of the more than 72,000 people who crossed from Morocco to Ceuta are now staying illegally. As of August 11, Ceuta's autonomous government head Juan Jesus Vivas announced that around 10,000 undocumented migrants remain in the territory, with many living on the streets or in temporary shelters. This number slightly exceeds one-tenth of Ceuta’s total population of about 80,000.

The European Union (EU) and Spain believe that false information widely spread on social media last month encouraged the mass border crossing by claiming migrants could freely travel to mainland Spain or other European countries after entering Ceuta. On August 10, the political news outlet Politico Europe reported that the EU would establish a fact-checking system in partnership with global social network companies such as Meta and TikTok for a swift response.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.