Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets across Spain in protest against the government's handling of a massive migrant influx into Ceuta, the Spanish exclave on the northern coast of Africa, as the humanitarian and political fallout from the crisis continues to grow. More than 72,000 people crossed from Morocco into the small territory on 30 and 31 July in an unprecedented surge, overwhelming local services and infrastructure. While most have since returned to Morocco, around 5,000 people remain — sheltering in makeshift camps, along streets, or on beaches — including an estimated 1,400 to 1,600 unaccompanied children.
Wednesday's nationwide rallies, organised in cities governed by or sympathetic to opposition parties, drew more than 50,000 people in Madrid alone. The conservative Partido Popular (PP) and the far-right Vox party led calls for Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to resign, with PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo declaring that "a Spanish city has been invaded, occupied" with the government's knowledge. Vox leader Santiago Abascal accused Sánchez of acting as a servant of the Moroccan government. The Sánchez administration has pushed back, arguing that right-wing parties are exploiting a humanitarian emergency for electoral gain.
At the heart of the political dispute is the question of Morocco's role. Sánchez has maintained there is no intelligence confirming that Moroccan authorities organised the crossing, attributing the surge instead to trafficking networks and online disinformation — including material he says was amplified by networks linked to Russia, Israel and the international far right, allegations both countries have rejected. However, a police report released Wednesday stated that Moroccan security forces showed "total permissiveness" during the influx, directly contradicting the prime minister's earlier public defence of Rabat. Morocco, which claims sovereignty over Ceuta and the nearby Spanish exclave of Melilla, has denied any involvement in orchestrating the crossings.
The crisis has also exposed severe humanitarian concerns on the ground. Spanish prosecutors report 23 sexual assault cases since the influx began, including nine involving children, with Ceuta's chief prosecutor warning that the true figure may be higher due to underreporting among victims in precarious situations. At least 100 people are reported to have died attempting to reach Ceuta by sea. On El Trampolín beach, hundreds of migrants — many of them young Moroccan men — remain in tents, reluctant to enter official reception centres amid fears of deportation. Residents like 32-year-old Nebil Tazi describe sleeping on the beach without adequate medical care, while others say they are driven by the hope of reuniting with family and finding work in Europe.
The Spanish government has approved a multi-million-euro aid package and convened the national security council twice in one week to respond to the crisis. Ceuta's regional president, Juan Jesús Vivas, has called for continued demonstrations in solidarity with the territory. With political pressure mounting, questions over Spain's relationship with Morocco unresolved, and thousands of people in limbo, the situation in Ceuta shows few signs of near-term resolution.