Melilla, a Spanish exclave, was overrun by more than 400 migrants

More than 400 migrants attempted to cross into the Spanish exclave of Melilla from Morocco on Friday. As the local authorities announced, the migrants stormed the border fence. A “considerable number” managed to penetrate into the exclave in northern Morocco. 

According to Spanish information, the Moroccan law enforcement officers were working in coordination with the Spanish to push back the refugees. However, a “large group” of people from sub-Saharan Africa who had been “organized and violent” managed to gain entry to Melilla.

Several hundred migrants had already managed to get to Melilla over the meter-high border fence in March. Ceuta and Melilla, which form the only EU land borders in Africa, are regular destinations for people hoping for a better life in Europe. The border fences are equipped with barbed wire, video cameras, and guard platforms.

The Spanish government made a diplomatic change of course in March after a long dispute over Morocco’s control of Western Sahara. Madrid recognized the Moroccan autonomy plan for the disputed area, which envisages, among other things, offering Western Sahara autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty. Since then, ferry connections between Spain and Morocco have been resumed and police cooperation programs have been launched in the Spanish exclaves, among other places.