Ceuta president hopes Morocco will maintain border security

MADRID - President of the Spanish enclave of Ceuta Juan Jesus Vivas expressed his hope that Morocco maintains its security system to protect his city from the soaring waves of migrants who have swarmed the northern Moroccan city of Fnideq as its infrastructure can no longer accommodate new arrivals.

Speaking on Carlos Herrera’s show, Vivas acknowledged his doubt about Morocco’s ability to maintain this level of security in the long run despite the important ongoing cooperation between Spain and Morocco about illegal migration.

The president of the anxious Spanish enclave praised the effectiveness of Moroccan forces to stem the unexpected wave of migration.

“Morocco has carried out a very remarkable operation to thwart attempts to access our city,” he said, adding that “the situation in Ceuta is now suffocating.”

Moroccan authorities on Sunday prevented hundreds of migrants from storming a border fence to reach Ceuta, after calls on social media for a mass migration attempt.

Spain's two enclaves on Morocco's Mediterranean coast, Ceuta and Melilla, share the only land borders of the European Union with Africa. The enclaves sporadically experience waves of attempted crossings by migrants trying to reach Europe.

Vivas warned that the reception center is far beyond its capacity.

“Regarding unaccompanied foreign minors, we are facing an unsustainable crisis, both in terms of infrastructure and budget. A strong and rapid response from the State is necessary,” he warned.

Vivas reported a 350% increase in the number of foreign minors this year, and a 500% overload of reception infrastructure.

“This is an urgent crisis…A dialogue is underway with the national government,” he said.

“Migratory pressure is a key security issue in Ceuta which requires national coordination. The problem of unaccompanied foreign minors cannot rest solely on Ceuta or the Canary Islands, but concerns the whole country,” he warned.

Fnideq continues to be the scene of desperate attempts by young Moroccans and minors to climb the Ceuta fence despite a heavy presence of Moroccan Security.

According to a preliminary report, between September, 11 and 16, over 4400 illegal migrants were arrested in Fnideq, including 3,795 adults, 141 minors and 519 foreign nationals.

Six attempted collective assaults were foiled by the security forces, and 70 people, including Moroccans and sub-Saharan and Algerian migrants, were arrested for inciting these mass migratory movements.