Spain Protest - Ceuta Migrants
Thousands of people took the streets in major Spanish cities to protest the government's handling of the Ceuta migrants Screenshot from Twitter/Concerned Citizen @BGatesIsaPyscho

Protests in Ceuta have been frequent, but the activity has spread elsewhere in the country through coordinated demonstrations on Wednesday. Tens of thousands of people gathered in Madrid while thousands also protested in Seville, Zaragoza and other cities against the Spanish Government's handling of the Ceuta crisis.

Between 30 and 31 July, around 72,000 people crossed from Morocco to the Spanish territory of Ceuta. Authorities estimated 80 people died from crossing, many from attempted swims. While the majority have since returned home, between 5,000 and 10,000 migrants remain in Ceuta—estimates vary among officials and agencies.

Ceuta's Split Reality

'Expel the invaders' was among the rallying cries during the multiple protests around the country. Some chanted: 'Ceuta is not for sale; Ceuta must be defended.'

The protests coincided with Ceuta Day on 2 September, overshadowing the annual celebration.

Meanwhile, thousands of migrants endure the overcrowded and uncomfortable living arrangements in Ceuta, hoping for a better life. One of them told a global news outlet: 'There is no work in Morocco. I want to build a future in my life.'

For the protesters, however, Ceuta is theirs—the Spanish people's. Many waved the Spanish flag or draped it over their shoulders. Some are calling for Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to resign for failing to solve the crisis after more than a month.

Better Ceuta Day in 2027?

Sánchez took to X to greet Ceuta: 'Today I want to thank the people of Ceuta for the serenity, solidarity, and responsibility they have shown during these weeks. We are mobilizing all the resources at our disposal so that your city can regain full normalcy as soon as possible.'

'I am sure that next year we will celebrate it with a stronger, more prosperous Ceuta, better prepared for the future,' Sánchez added.

Many called him a 'traitor' in the replies and quote-tweets of his congratulatory statement. One of them came from the regional opposition party, the People's Party Comunidad de Madrid: 'You've got to have a face like reinforced concrete to film yourself in this video when he abandoned the people of Ceuta to their fate while he was lounging in the sun on a deck chair in La Mareta and thousands of illegals were invading the streets of Ceuta, sowing panic, fear, and insecurity. Traitor.'

Claims of Moroccan Involvement

The 'traitor' comments were not only about Sanchez's failure to send back thousands of migrants to Morocco. They also stem from a leaked report alleging that Moroccan forces encouraged migrants to cross the border to reach Spanish territory.

There has been no solid proof of the reports, but that did not stop Juan Fernando López Aguilar, a member of the European Parliament, from making a statement to European media: 'It is only obvious, it couldn't have happened without some overlooking by the Moroccan authorities. That's common sense. But the government has to act based on facts and evidence.'

The issue has been highly politicised, with the opposition calling for the deportation of all remaining migrants, including minors. The administration said it is merely following a legal and humanitarian framework by not summarily returning remaining migrants to their country of origin.

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