Ceuta Residents Protest Madrid’s Handling of Migration Crisis

Residents of Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta protested on Wednesday against Madrid’s handling of the migration crisis, nearly five weeks after at least 72,000 people crossed the border from Morocco.

Thousands marched on Ceuta Day, waving Spanish flags, blowing whistles and chanting that the city “is not for sale”. Some demanded the deportation of migrants or the resignation of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. Demonstrations were also held in Madrid, Barcelona and Bilbao.

More than 10,000 migrants, including unaccompanied minors, remain in the enclave, living in makeshift camps, on streets and beaches.

The protests were called by the FEMP federation of municipalities, dominated by the opposition conservative People’s Party. The left-wing government accused the right of exploiting the crisis for political gain, while left-wing groups and unions held counter-demonstrations against racist and Islamophobic attacks.

A manifesto by the citizens’ initiative Por Ceuta, calling for orderly returns, greater security and respect for human rights, has gathered nearly 65,000 signatures.

Madrid has increased temporary accommodation from about 500 to more than 3,400 places and deployed over 1,600 police officers. Negotiations with the local government remain deadlocked, with the People’s Party calling for all those remaining, including minors, to be deported.

(Reuters, bak)