At least 8,000 migrants entered the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez deployed troops to patrol the border with Morocco. Sanchez called the incident a serious crisis for Spain and Europe and pledged to re-establish order in the region. Spain’s interior minister said it would send 200 soldiers to patrol the borders and ensure its security.
Sanchez also said he would visit the North African enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla.
The migrants from Morocco swam or climbed the fence to reach Ceuta and Melilla. 1,500 of them were minors. Videos shared on social media show potential migrants standing on the African side of the fence. Experts say that Morocco is allowing migrants into Spain to put pressure on Madrid to recognise its sovereignty over Western Sahara.
“This is happening because of the absolute passivity of the Moroccan authorities,” Ceuta regional leader Juan Jose Vivas told the 24H TV channel. He also added that it was impossible to say how many migrants had entered the enclaves, adding that the situation was chaotic and it was now impossible to say how many migrants had entered. He said about 4,000 had already been sent back to Morocco.
Morocco, as per a Reuters report is accepting migrants being sent back under a readmission deal. The minors were however were being sent to an industrial building.
Tensions between, Spain and Morocco have been escalating over the fate of Morocco over the fate of Brahim Ghali, the leader of the Polisario Front, who is in hospital in Spain. The Polisario Front no longer wants to be part of Morocco, but to be an independent state.
Videos on social media showed the police and soldiers use batons to clear the migrants and hurled smoke bombs to prevent more migrants from crossing.
Morocco's Foreign Ministry Spain's decision to admit Ghali under a false identity without informing Morocco. Spanish Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya told Reuters that Ghali was accepted into Spain on humanitarian grounds.
The US, in December, recognised Moroccan sovereignty over Polisario Front.
