Over 150 individuals have appeared in a Moroccan court for allegedly inciting illegal migration, following a failed mass attempt to reach the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, a government spokesman said on Thursday. Moroccan police thwarted the attempt on Sunday, deploying tear gas to push back hundreds of people who were attempting the crossing after being encouraged by social media posts.
“In the framework of the struggle against calls for clandestine immigration, 152 people appeared before a judge,” government spokesman Mustapha Baitas told a press conference.
He said a total of around 3,000 people had tried to illegally enter Ceuta after calls on social media, but all the crossing attempts failed.
Moroccan police had previously arrested 60 individuals between Monday and Wednesday of last week for allegedly fabricating and disseminating false information on social media encouraging illegal immigration attempts.
Ceuta and Melilla, Spain’s enclaves in North Africa, are frequent targets for irregular migration due to their proximity to the European Union. Those who attempted the crossing included Moroccans, migrants from other African nations, and minors, according to an AFP photographer.
Unemployment and lack of opportunities among Moroccan youth may contribute to such migration attempts. Official statistics show that one in four Moroccan young people aged 15 to 24 is neither employed nor in education or training.
In August alone, Moroccan authorities blocked over 11,300 attempts to enter Ceuta and around 3,300 attempts to enter Melilla. The primary route for irregular migrants remains by sea, with more than 22,300 migrant arrivals recorded in the Canary Islands this year by mid-August, marking a 126% increase from 2023.
The issue of migration has grown increasingly deadly. In June 2022, at least 23 people lost their lives while attempting to storm the border at Melilla, underscoring the risks faced by those attempting the perilous journey to Europe.