Spain repatriates thousands of migrants to Morocco after Ceuta crossing

Thousands of migrants who crossed into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta have been returned to Morocco, with many boarding buses home on Friday as the repatriation operation continued into Saturday.

Journalists from AFP at the scene reported that the return process was ongoing, with large numbers of people leaving Ceuta under coordinated arrangements between Spanish and Moroccan authorities.

A Moroccan source familiar with the operation, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said those sent back by Spain were being transported directly to their hometowns by bus or taken to the railway station in Tangier, about 70 kilometres (45 miles) from Ceuta, to continue their journeys.

The operation is part of efforts by both countries to manage the recent influx of migrants into the Spanish enclave.

According to the source, the Fnideq border crossing is now “completely secure”, as are the hills overlooking it, from which hundreds of people, mostly young men, had thrown stones at security forces on Friday.

The Spanish government announced on Friday evening that at least 48,000 of the 60,000 people who entered Ceuta in recent days had returned to Morocco.

Late Friday, AFP journalists saw around twenty 54-person-capacity buses depart, for a total of about a thousand people.

Fnideq is a small town of just 70,000 inhabitants, roughly equivalent to the population of the enclave of Ceuta, one of Spain’s two North African enclaves.

The buses were headed for Tangier, Tetouan, or the economic capital Casablanca, all equipped with rail facilities to redirect people who had come from as far away as Marrakech, more than 500 kilometres to the south.

“I heard that buses had arrived to take us back home. Honestly, I just want to see my children again. I regret having come all the way here,” said Rachid Aouchari, 32, from Ksar el Kebir, 170 kilometres from Fnideq, who was turned back from Ceuta during the night from Thursday to Friday.

Until midday Friday, clashes had pitted the security forces against migrants seeking to cross into Spain, either by swimming or on foot along a narrow wall leading to the Ceuta crossing point.

Police responded with water cannons and tear gas against hundreds of young men, arresting dozens of them, according to an AFP journalist.

Follow Very Nigerian WhatsApp Channel
For Verified Breaking News, Exclusive Reports, Trending Stories, And Real-time Updates.
CLICk HERE TO JOIN!