Why Spain Has a City in Africa: The 2,000-Year Story of Ceuta at the Center of Europe's Migrant Flashpoint
Viral videos show migrants swimming and scaling fences as Ceuta remains one of Europe’s most closely watched external borders.
- On Friday, thousands of migrants attempted to enter the Spanish territory of Ceuta from Morocco by sea and on foot, marking one of the biggest migration surges in recent years.
- Ceuta, a small Spanish territory on the African continent, serves as an autonomous city within the European Union and represents one of only two land borders between the EU and Africa.
- The city has a population of around 85,000 comprising Christians, Muslims, and residents of Spanish or Moroccan heritage. Heavily fortified border infrastructure, including high security fences topped with barbed wire, aims to prevent illegal crossings.
- Morocco considers both Ceuta and Melilla to be Moroccan territory still under Spanish occupation, though Spain rejects those claims and maintains both cities are inseparable parts of the country.
- Portugal captured the city in the 16th century, and it has remained under Spanish sovereignty since. Ceuta's strategic location and complex history make it one of Europe's most politically sensitive border regions.
32 Articles
32 Articles
The Ceuta crisis explained: Why thousands risked their lives
Why did nearly 60,000 migrants cross into the tiny Spanish city of Ceuta in just a few days? This explainer breaks down the viral rumours, Morocco-Spain tensions, Europe's unique border in North Africa, and the humanitarian crisis that followed. Learn how misinformation, unemployment, and geopolitics combined to trigger one of the most dramatic migration surges in recent years—and what it reveals about the future of Europe's borders.
A First Person Video From A Motor Biker Through Now Invaded Ceuta Spain Is Devastating
Tommy Robinson has released harrowing first-person motorcycle footage of a ride through the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, captioning it simply: “A morning ride through conquered Ceuta.” What the rider sees is not the Spanish outpost many Brits once imagined. Under grey skies, the camera glides past rows of apartment blocks, palm trees and Spanish-registered cars – yet the streets tell a different story. Groups of young men, predominantly of North Af…
The situation in the Spanish North African exclave of Ceuta has calmed down somewhat after a mass arrival of migrants from Morocco overnight, and authorities there are dealing with the consequences of one of the largest influxes of people into the territory in recent years.
Thousands of immigrants try to enter Spain leaving Morocco Thousands of migrants have crossed the border between Morocco and the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in North Africa in recent days. The movement has generated strong reactions, both in Spain and in the European Union, further increasing diplomatic tensions between Madrid and Rabat. ✅ Follow the international news channel of the G1 in the WhatsApp Spanish authorities estimate that about 60,000…
The Economic Times
Times of IndiaWhy Spain has a city in Africa: The 2,000-year story of Ceuta at the center of Europe's migrant flashpoint
Thousands of migrants are attempting to enter Spain's Ceuta enclave from Morocco. Ceuta is a small Spanish territory located on the African continent. This enclave serves as one of Europe's most closely watched external borders. Morocco disputes Spain's sovereignty over Ceuta and Melilla, its other enclave. These territories remain politically sensitive border regions for Europe and migrants.
They belong to Spain, but are located in North Africa - surrounded by Morocco and the Mediterranean: the two autonomous regions of Ceuta and Melilla are repeatedly the destination of migrants who want to reach Europe irregularly.
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