Rabat – Spanish authorities dismantled the last migrant camp in Ceuta on Sunday, just two days before King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia are due to visit the occupied city.
More than 350 police officers and military personnel took part in the early-morning operation at the El Guano esplanade, where hundreds of migrants had built makeshift shelters. The intervention followed the clearance of nearby beaches, according to Spanish media reports.
The operation was the fifth of its kind in recent weeks, as local authorities sought to remove migrant encampments from public spaces before the royal couple’s arrival, Faro de Vigo reported.
The timing adds to the controversy surrounding the royal visit, which comes at a sensitive moment for Morocco-Spain relations. Although Rabat and Madrid have strengthened cooperation in recent years, the trip has revived questions about Spain’s approach to Ceuta and Melilla, two territories under Spanish administration that Morocco claims.
The visit has also drawn criticism amid pressure from Spain’s right-wing and far-right parties, which have made the status of the two cities a recurring political issue. Critics argue that the royal trip risks reinforcing historical tensions at a time when both countries have sought closer ties.
Migrants flee as authorities clear camp
Sunday’s operation reportedly prompted several migrants to flee toward nearby hills to avoid transfer to reception centers.
The removal of the camp marks the latest effort by Spanish authorities to clear areas where migrants had sought temporary shelter. The successive operations have placed the treatment of migrants in Ceuta back in focus, particularly as the city prepares for a high-profile royal visit.
The episode also points to the difficult balance Spanish authorities face between border control, the management of migrant arrivals, and the political sensitivities surrounding Ceuta.
Felipe VI and Queen Letizia are scheduled to visit Ceuta on October 13 and 14 before proceeding to Melilla. Their trip has sparked debate over the symbolism of a royal visit to the two territories and its implications for relations with Morocco, which has long opposed Spanish sovereignty over both cities.
