Name: Morocco blocks 80,000 migrant attempts as Ceuta route stays active
Uploaded: 2025-12-24T16:33:16.354Z
Duration: 2 min 48 s
Description: Ceuta, a key EU entry point, saw 80k migrant attempts blocked in 2024, yet poverty drives risky crossings despite tough border measures.

Ceuta, a key EU entry point, saw 80k migrant attempts blocked in 2024, yet poverty drives risky crossings despite tough border measures.

Ceuta

Moroccan authorities have intercepted 80,000 attempts by migrants to cross into Europe through the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. The migrants, primarily from North Africa, the Sahel, and West Africa, use Ceuta as a transit point in hopes of reaching mainland Europe. 

Officials emphasize a dual approach of strict border control and humanitarian treatment, with intercepted migrants assessed and sheltered before repatriation. Despite these efforts, poverty and instability in Africa continue to drive many to risk the dangerous journey.

Morocco blocks 80,000 migrant attempts as Ceuta route stays active

For years, thousands of migrants from North Africa, the Sahel, and West Africa have tried this route. For them, the Spanish enclave of Ceuta is just a transit point, and their ultimate goal is mainland Europe. Aziz Jilali is from the Immigration and Border Surveillance Authority. He shows us the vast forested mountains where migrants hide. They wait for dark or the cover of mist to sneak down the hills and try to climb the fences or swim. We have an inclusive and humanist strategy where the immigrants are at the centre of our actions. The migrants who are intercepted are brought to these reception centres for assessment and then sent to shelters. This will always be a tempting spot for migrants hoping to reach Europe. Often they wait for the low tide to walk or swim around the fence to get to Ceuta, which you can see behind me. But many times, men, women and children just jump in the waters during high tide in their desperation to get to the enclave. Khaled Zarwali has been instrumental in putting Morocco's migration policy into place. He's constantly talking to African and European nations about the issue. We think that migration is a human issue and we need to tackle it in two ways. Be very tough on criminals and make sure they do not take advantage of the vulnerabilities of migrants. But at the same time seal off our borders. The journey for these migrants is almost over. Intercepted they will spend a few days in this shelter before they're repatriated. Europe means a lot to me. I have relatives there and that's why I came, hoping that one day I'll make it and look after my family. Al-Sini came a long way from Senegal. He is clearly devastated. His dream looks over. I couldn't make money at home and I saw my friends going to Europe. I left Senegal, then went to Mali and Algeria before reaching Morocco and I want to go to Europe. Stopping illegal migration may never be possible, but for Khaled Zarwali the dignity of migrants should remain central. You will find that migrant dignity is key in our approaches. In the border we have invented a new concept that is humanised border management. But as long as poverty and political instability persist in Africa, many people like these young migrants will continue to risk a journey that could cost them their lives. Hashim Al-Bara' Al-Jazeera, Mediac, Northern Morocco.

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