Hundreds of migrants who crossed into Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta this week began returning to Morocco on Saturday, saying hunger, exhaustion and growing hostility forced them to abandon hopes of reaching mainland Europe.
Reuters reported on Sunday that many returnees said they were encouraged to cross after watching viral social media videos and receiving messages from friends suggesting the heavily fortified border could be breached. Once inside Ceuta, however, they found themselves stranded, unable to continue to mainland Spain and struggling to access food, shelter and basic services.
“We came to make progress, not to be fooled,” said Brahim, a bakery worker from the Moroccan city of Fez, who said he left his job after seeing thousands of others cross into the enclave.
“I thought I’d build a better future there. But I was surprised in Ceuta,” he said, adding that he survived for three days drinking only water because food was unaffordable.
In Fnideq, the Moroccan city bordering Ceuta, Reuters journalists saw roads that had been packed with migrants only days earlier largely deserted as people returned home or boarded taxis to leave the area. Many described Ceuta as isolated after supermarkets and shops shut during the influx, leaving them without reliable access to food or water.
“Ceuta was like a prison,” another Moroccan migrant told Reuters. “Everything was closed.”
Some migrants also alleged they were threatened or driven away from El Principe, a predominantly Moroccan neighborhood in Ceuta. Spain’s Interior Ministry said two people suffered minor injuries in separate knife attacks during the unrest and that one suspect had been arrested. Authorities said no fatalities linked to knife attacks had been recorded since Thursday.
While many migrants returned to Morocco, not everyone chose to leave. Reuters reported that Mohamed Ahmed, a 43-year-old Sudanese migrant, remained determined to stay despite the difficult conditions.
“I’m not going back,” he said. “I’d rather die trying here.”
The migrant surge has placed renewed pressure on Ceuta, one of two Spanish enclaves bordering Morocco that have long served as key entry points for migrants seeking to reach Europe. Spanish authorities increased security across the enclave as businesses gradually reopened and daily life slowly returned to normal.
Residents described mixed emotions, expressing concern over public safety while also sympathizing with migrants fleeing poverty and instability.
“Those young people, they’re being completely exploited,” hardware store owner Tito told Reuters. “They’re being used as bargaining chips.”
The latest influx has reignited debate over migration management along Europe’s southern border, highlighting the humanitarian risks faced by migrants and the continuing political tensions surrounding migration between Morocco and Spain.
