Morocco and Spain have reached an agreement to return all migrants who entered the Spanish enclave of Ceuta to Morocco, according to Spanish news agency EFE.
“Spain and Morocco agreed on Thursday to strengthen coordination and efforts to address the migration crisis affecting Ceuta, where between 1,500 and 2,000 people have arrived in the last ten days,” EFE reported.
The news outlet said the two countries also pledged to review and implement measures for the handover, as soon as possible, of all those who have entered the Spanish enclave illegally.
The news comes after videos and posts swept social media, showing hundreds entering or attempting to swim to the Spanish enclave.
Local authorities said two bodies were recovered at sea, while 800 people attempted to enter the enclave on Wednesday.
The Spanish Interior Ministry lauded his country’s “exemplary” cooperation with Morocco, citing Moroccan authorities’ sustained efforts on migration management.
Spain also denounced the human trafficking networks that exploit a court ruling to encourage the flow of undocumented migrants, mostly youth.
EFE’s report recalled that thousands of young Moroccans arrived on Thursday at the border between Castillejos, in northern Morocco, and the enclave to try to cross the fence.
Hundreds jumped over the fences, entering Ceuta.
The report noted that Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska will travel to the enclave in response to the migration crisis, recalling that the local government in Ceuta called for an emergency plan to tackle the urgent situation.
Meanwhile, Marlaska thanked Morocco for its recent and continued efforts in preventing thousands of attempts at irregular migration, with the two countries agreeing to boost cooperation to address the persisting flows of irregular migrants.
According to EFE, Marlaska also pledged to remain in constant contact with Morocco’s Interior Minister, Abdelouafi Laftit, to address this crisis and deepen strategic cooperation between Madrid and Rabat.
