Spain: Ceuta crisis declared a national security concern in Spain

On August 25th, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez declared a “state of national security interest” over the recent crisis caused by the mass entry of migrants into Ceuta from Morocco, as reported by the Moroccan government-friendly outlet Yabiladi. 

The announcement came after an extraordinary National Security Council meeting on the Ceuta crisis, held 26 days after the late July migrant influx.

Ceuta’s president-mayor, Juan Jesús Vivas, attended the meeting along with 17 ministers, including the three deputy prime ministers.

The move to declare a “state of national security interest” enables the government to expand its authority over the autonomous city by appointing a “functional authority” to oversee and coordinate required actions.

First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, Trade and Business Carlos Cuerpo announced that the measure has been activated, demonstrating the highest level of seriousness in civil protection.

He also confirmed that Ángel Víctor Torres, the Minister for Territorial Policy. This move responds to Viva’s earlier calls for action, with him describing the crisis in a live statement for FaroTV Ceuta  as a “maximum risk from a national security perspective.”

The decree allows for broader national-security action, greater central coordination, and a single command.

The first deputy prime minister said this decision would be a “turning point” in restoring order in the enclave, after approximately 80,000 people entered the autonomous city in late July, according to Spanish figures.

Cuerpo emphasised the necessity for cooperation between the various administrations, stating: “We hope that the coordination mechanism enabled by unified command will help ensure that returns, where necessary, are carried out as quickly as possible, and that the cases of minors and people entitled to seek asylum are processed as swiftly as possible.”

He further stressed the importance of resolving “all these cases as soon as possible, firmly, and effectively”, as the Spanish government strives to return those who do not “have the right to remain in our country” and to properly receive “minors and asylum seekers who are entitled to do so”. He maintains that this must be done with “all humanitarian and legal guarantees”.

The Spanish Prime Minister’s Office intends to conduct a series of meetings this week with social stakeholders, associations, key sectors, and the Government of Ceuta to “put emergency measures into effect immediately,” with the goal of “presenting and approving them as soon as possible.”

This intervention follows a deteriorating security situation in Ceuta, as services and reception centres have reached capacity. As a result, migrants, including children, have taken to sleeping in public spaces, such as in nearby forests and local parks. Calls for further government action nevertheless persist as pressure on Ceuta’s services and reception system continues to grow.

Yabiladi, FaroTV, Maghrebi.org