Hundreds of Moroccan families are still searching for relatives who disappeared while trying to swim to Ceuta, one of Spain’s autonomous enclaves and the center of a political dispute. More than 2,000 identified Moroccan minors remain in the city, caught between Spanish and European child protection laws and calls for their return. Meanwhile, the worsening situation for migrants stranded in the enclave has faded from Morocco’s political agenda as the election campaign intensifies.
Nationalist talk about Ceuta and Melilla has grown louder in Moroccan politics, pushing the struggles of irregular migrants into the background. Both government and opposition parties have used the issue of the two Spanish cities, long claimed by Morocco, as a rallying point. The Partido Autenticidad y Modernidad and Partido Istiqlal, along with opposition Partido del Progreso y del Socialismo, have all publicly backed Morocco’s claim. At a recent football match, fans of Magreb Asociación Deportiva from Fez unfurled a huge banner in Spanish: “Ceuta and Melilla, two cities, one homeland: Morocco.”
The unprecedented mass border crossing at the end of July 2026 saw approximately 80,000 people enter Ceuta in just two days, information from a European Parliament briefing.
As legislative elections approach, official statements have become more guarded. In a recent communiqué, the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs avoided direct mention of Ceuta and Melilla, signaling a move away from open confrontation. What was once a central theme now seems to have been set aside as political leaders try to avoid further escalation.
While politicians trade slogans, Moroccan civil society groups warn of rising hostility and xenophobia toward migrants in Spain. The Liga Marroquí para la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos, linked to the Partido Istiqlal, has accused Spanish authorities of ignoring attacks on Moroccan migrants in Ceuta and tolerating extremist groups. A small protest outside the Spanish Embassy in Rabat was the first such demonstration since the crisis began, a sign of limited public mobilization on the issue.
The humanitarian cost is clear. The Consejo Nacional de Derechos Humanos has accused Spanish security forces of mistreating migrants who arrived en masse in Ceuta at the end of July and failing to provide adequate care. The same group previously blamed Spanish police for at least 23 deaths during the 2022 Melilla border incident involving sub-Saharan migrants.
Spanish authorities have reported that, since August 10, more than 5,300 people have been returned to Morocco to ease the pressure on Ceuta, with an additional 1,000 in the process of repatriation. Local officials warn that the city’s basic reception center, designed for just 29 minors, has been overwhelmed by hundreds and even thousands of unaccompanied children, information from European Parliament and regional sources.
Conditions for those stranded in Ceuta are grim. Reports describe makeshift camps filled with garbage and migrants suffering from untreated wounds and insect bites. Many describe the city as a “giant prison” or an “open-air waiting room” for Europe. A 36-year-old migrant from Fez, now living on Ceuta’s Trampolín beach, warns others not to attempt the crossing, citing hunger and abuse, including violence.
Despite promises from Moroccan politicians, such as raising the minimum wage to 5,000 dirhams, most migrants have little hope for change at home. Activists like Jadiya Inani from the Asociación Marroquí de Derechos Humanos point out that returning to Morocco often means facing police interrogations and legal trouble, especially for those who have spoken publicly about violence. The reasons driving irregular migration remain unresolved.
As reported earlier, the debate over Ceuta and Melilla keeps resurfacing in European institutions, but practical solutions for those caught in the middle are still missing. Spanish authorities have received at least 200 reports from families searching for missing youths, while many bodies remain unidentified and unclaimed because Morocco refuses to accept their return without the repatriation of minors.
Morocco’s current political climate shows how nationalist agendas can overshadow urgent humanitarian needs. Sovereignty claims over Ceuta and Melilla dominate headlines and campaign speeches. Migrants face neglect, while families remain desperate for answers and children’s futures are suspended between two legal systems. Political leaders’ silence on these consequences is a reminder that during election season, the most vulnerable are often the first to be forgotten.
