'Go that way': Migrants say Moroccan authorities directed them towards Spain's Ceuta
Migrants arriving in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta claim they were encouraged by Moroccan authorities and misleading social media posts. Spain is now reinforcing its border with a new containment barrier following the influx and resulting humanitarian crisis.
Why it matters
This highlights the ongoing geopolitical tensions regarding migration routes between Africa and Europe and the humanitarian risks faced by asylum seekers.
Multiple Moroccan migrants who crossed into Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta this week claimed they were encouraged by Moroccan authorities and social media messages claiming the border was open. Meanwhile, Spain moved to reinforce the enclave's border after the unprecedented influx that has now left at least 67 people dead."They just kept saying, 'Go that way, go that way,'" said Youssef Alaoui, 26, recalling his approach to the border before swimming into Ceuta, as quoted by the New York Times. He said he crossed the maritime frontier past the bodies of migrants who had drowned.Others said they had seen social media posts suggesting Spain had opened its border, although the origin of the messages remains unclear."It helped that the Moroccan authorities had let them through.
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