Madrid takes control of Ceuta port and allows tent camps for migrants

In the dispute over the accommodation of migrants in Spain's North African exclave of Ceuta, the government in Madrid has taken control of the area's port. Transport Minister Óscar Puente signed a corresponding order and allowed a temporary camp for migrants to be set up in the port area, as the state TV broadcaster RTVE and other Spanish media consistently reported. Puente thereby ignored a decision by the local authorities.

The regional government under the president of the exclave bordering Morocco, Juan Jesús Vivas, recently spoke out against the construction of such a tent camp in the port area. The port was important for supplying the exclave, and there was also a large tank farm nearby, the reason given was. The local administration had previously opposed the temporary accommodation of migrants in a disused factory, a former military hospital or sports centers. Another camp for around 900 people is currently being built in the Los Rosales district. There were protests from residents there.

At the end of July, according to government figures, around 72,000 migrants swam from Morocco to Ceuta or climbed over border fences. Most returned within hours. However, a month later there were still around 5,000 migrants in Ceuta, which is not even as big as Frankfurt Airport. According to government figures, 1,200 of them are minors.

This article will continue to be updated.