Moroccan police arrested at least 111 individuals attempting to reach the Spanish enclave of Ceuta on Saturday, August 15, 2026. Footage circulating online depicted large groups, predominantly from sub-Saharan Africa, moving towards the territory.

The attempted crossing occurs weeks after a significant influx of over 70,000 people arrived in Ceuta, a situation that resulted in numerous fatalities. Authorities in Morocco had previously stated their efforts to prevent such attempts, attributing the current surge to a new disinformation campaign on social media that encouraged migration towards the enclave.

According to Reuters, citing a source from Morocco’s Ministry of Interior, police deployed in large numbers to intercept the crowds. The operation involved the use of tear gas to disperse the migrants, leading to the arrests. Spanish newspaper ABC reported that hundreds of people were en route to Ceuta, traversing mountainous terrain through towns like Fnideq, likely to evade security checkpoints.

Local outlet Le360 reported a higher arrest figure of 294 people, including 46 Moroccan nationals, with the remainder identified as being from sub-Saharan Africa. This incident highlights ongoing challenges at the border between Morocco and the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla.

The situation in Ceuta has been politically charged. Spanish lawmaker Jaime de los Santos criticized Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, accusing him of inaction. De los Santos stated that sixteen days after a large arrival of people, the Prime Minister had not provided explanations or addressed the crisis effectively.

In late July, approximately 72,000 individuals entered Ceuta, with reports indicating at least 96 deaths during the journey. Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska mentioned on Thursday that around 5,000 migrants were still in Ceuta.

Morocco does not recognize Ceuta as Spanish territory, adding a layer of diplomatic complexity to migration management efforts. The mountainous route chosen by the migrants suggests a strategy to circumvent official border controls and security measures.

Unresolved questions remain regarding the full extent of the social media campaign's influence and the long-term strategies both Morocco and Spain will implement to manage future migration attempts and ensure border security.