After a mass movement of people into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta this week, Moroccans who crossed describe a chaotic journey and an uncertain future, according to the Guardian.
Key facts
- More than 50,000 people entered the Spanish enclave of Ceuta this week, according to the Guardian.
- About 400 people were reported to have swum from Morocco to Ceuta.
- Ceuta sits on the north African coast, roughly 12 miles (19km) across the strait of Gibraltar from mainland Spain.
- One of those who crossed, Youssef El Abbas, 44, is a Moroccan father of four previously deported from Spain.
More than 50,000 people entered the Spanish enclave of Ceuta this week, and many of those who made the crossing now find themselves in limbo on the enclave’s streets, according to the Guardian.
Among them is Youssef El Abbas, a 44-year-old Moroccan father of four. Four days before the report, he saw what he described as an opportunity to reclaim the life he had lost seven years earlier, the Guardian said.
News had been circulating that about 400 people had swum from Morocco to the neighbouring Spanish enclave of Ceuta, which sits on the north African coast. The enclave lies approximately 12 miles (19km) across the strait of Gibraltar from mainland Spain.
For El Abbas, the crossing represented a chance to return to Spain, from which he had been deported. According to the Guardian, his residency expired after he lost his job in Bilbao in 2019, leading to his deportation.
The Guardian reports that those who entered this week have described both the journey itself and the prospects that now await them, with the initial chaos of the border crossing giving way to uncertainty over what comes next.
Why it matters
Ceuta is one of the European Union's land borders in Africa, making it a focal point for migration between Morocco and Spain. A movement of tens of thousands of people in a single week raises immediate humanitarian and policy questions for both governments and for the individuals now facing an uncertain status.
Frequently asked questions
How many people entered Ceuta this week?
According to the Guardian, more than 50,000 people entered the Spanish enclave of Ceuta during the week covered by its report.
Where is Ceuta located?
Ceuta is a Spanish enclave on the north African coast, approximately 12 miles (19km) across the strait of Gibraltar from mainland Spain.
Who is Youssef El Abbas?
He is a 44-year-old Moroccan father of four who had previously been deported from Spain after his residency expired following the loss of his job in Bilbao in 2019, according to the Guardian.