Rabat – Roughly 1,200 irregular migrants tried on March 3 to cross the Melilla border from Morocco in a second attempt of its kind in 24 hours.
Spanish police reported large numbers of migrants approaching the border hours after “the biggest entry attempt on record” of 2,500 irregular migrants on March 2.
In total, 850 irregular migrants successfully entered Melilla during both attempts, 500 on March 2 and 350 on March 3.
“At around 7:25 a.m., after overcoming the Moroccan security forces, they began to jump the fence… throwing stones and using hooks and sticks against the security forces,” said a Melilla government official.
Melilla authorities estimate that four members of Guardia Civil police were injured during the March 3 attempt while sixteen officers and 20 migrants reported minor injuries on March 2 due to the irregular crossing.
Commenting on the news, right-wing party Vox Melilla criticized the central government’s reaction saying that it is “repeating over and over again like a mantra” that Morocco is “a friendly country with which we maintain close ties of fraternal collaboration.”
The anti-immigration party considers this speech “dangerous” as it puts the Melilla inhabitants “in a vulnerable situation in front of a neighbor who does not respect us because we do not make ourselves respected.”
Vox President Santiago Abascal even compared King Mohammed VI to Vladimir Putin amid the ongoing Russian military operation in Ukraine. He described the Moroccan monarch as a “satrap [ruler] who has perceived the weakness of our Government and our institutions.”
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In 2021, the diplomatic relations between Morocco and Spain witnessed bilateral tensions due to Spain’s hosting of Polisario Front’s commander Brahim Ghali. Yet officials in both sides worked in restoring and reinforcing relations through diplomatic rapprochement.
As Morocco and Spain relatively overcame the diplomatic setback, the two countries remain facing the major issue of irregular migration. The Spanish enclaves on the African continent mean the European borders are within swimming distance for desperate migrants seeking to escape poverty by migrating to Europe.
On January 28, Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita highlighted that “migration policies must resist the examination of the truth instead of giving in to the temptation of controversy.” He emphasized that “they must, with supporting figures, concede that the crisis is not migratory but political.”
Yearly, thousands of Moroccans and sub-Saharan irregular migrants cross to Spain’s African territories by land and sea through Ceuta and Melilla.
In the past year, the Moroccan navy and police dismantled 150 irregular migration networks by sea and arrested 12,231 irregular migrants.
Read Also: Spain: Morocco is ‘Sovereign’ to Monitor its Borders Near Melilla, Ceuta
