“Ceuta is Spain”; “All of Spain for Ceuta”; “Ceuta is not alone”. These slogans are already flooding social networks in Spain. They should be visible this Wednesday September 2 at 8 p.m. in the streets of around thirty Spanish cities.
Peaceful demonstrations are being organized throughout the country, in solidarity with the autonomous enclave which faced the arrival of 70,000 migrants at the end of July. A month later, around 5,000 migrants are still present in Ceuta today, including around 1,200 unaccompanied minors, according to figures put forward this Monday by the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez. For their part, local authorities speak of 10,000 migrants still present.
Behind this great solidarity movement, a citizen movement called “Por Ceuta” (“For Ceuta” in Spanish). According to the Spanish press, this initiative was not launched by a political party, a union or an activist association. The chosen date owes nothing to chance. The festival of this Spanish city, located on the African continent, in an enclave bordering Morocco, is celebrated every year on September 2.
Guarantee the territorial integrity of the city
On September 2, 1415, after the conquest of this territory, the king of Portugal appointed Pedro de Meneses governor of the city. The 80,000 inhabitants of Ceuta commemorate this event, which marks the beginning of the modern era of the city. Subsequently, Ceuta was attached to the Spanish crown. In 2026, this “Día de Ceuta” will have a special dimension: everywhere in Spain, citizens will express their solidarity with the inhabitants of the city.
According to the manifesto published by the “For Ceuta” movement, the objective of this great peaceful rally is twofold: on the one hand, to remind people that the city is Spanish and to ask that its integrity be guaranteed in the face of this influx of migrants. On the other hand, ask that human rights be respected on the spot and propose the return of immigrants to their country of origin, except in humanitarian exceptions.
On Monday, Pedro Sánchez assured Monday that 6,000 reception places would soon be available in the territory for migrants, whose status must be verified by the Spanish authorities before possible return to Morocco. He also promised additional aid of 168 million euros to enable Ceuta to cope with the crisis and its economic consequences.
Madrid refutes Morocco's involvement
The government also tasked Ángel Víctor Torres, Minister of Territorial Policy, with leading the new single command which must coordinate the response to the migration crisis. Accused by the right-wing opposition of having lacked responsiveness on this issue, Pedro Sánchez assured that the Spanish intelligence services had not been able to anticipate this sudden influx.
The head of the Spanish government also responded to those who accuse Morocco of having caused this migration crisis to put pressure on Madrid regarding the recognition of Western Sahara. False information, according to Pedro Sánchez, who refuted any involvement of Rabat in the events. On site, tension remains high and demonstrations by residents denouncing poor hygiene and safety conditions are frequent. This September 2, their mobilization should meet with a particular echo.
