Rabat – In the early hours of Wednesday morning, authorities in the northern Moroccan prefecture of M’Diq-Fnideq thwarted an attempt at irregular migration towards the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, specifically at Oued Lakhloute.
The attempted irregular migration was carried out by around 200 individuals from sub-Saharan African countries, MAP news agency quoted Moroccan authorities as saying.
Some of these individuals were armed with sticks, stones, and iron hooks to aid in climbing the metal fence separating Morocco from Ceuta, added the source.
Law enforcement has intervened and apprehend all migrants involved. Minor injuries were reported among both migrants and law enforcement personnel.
Morocco serves as a transit point for migrants from various countries in Africa, who often embark on dangerous journeys in search of better opportunities in Europe.
Some attempt to cross the land border into the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, while others take to the sea in boats, aiming to reach the Canary Islands or mainland Europe.
In 2023, Morocco’s border control, in collaboration with law enforcement, intercepted around 87,000 individuals attempting irregular migration, primarily from Sub-Saharan origins.
The increased surveillance efforts across land and maritime borders led to the identification and interception of these migrants, while also providing aid to over 22,000 stranded migrants.
Over the past five years, Morocco has thwarted a total of 366,000 irregular migration attempts and rescued more than 90,000 migrants, particularly focusing on dismantling criminal networks involved in irregular migration.
This approach has significantly decreased the flow of illegal migrants into Europe, with estimates showing a 36% year-on-year drop by April 2023.
