Mass arrival in Ceuta: Sanchez speaks of violation of Spanish sovereignty

Ceuta – 01/08/2026: Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has described the mass border crossing from Morocco into the North African enclave of Ceuta as a violation of his country’s territorial integrity. According to the central government, at least 50,000 people have entered Spanish territory since Thursday, July 30. Ceuta regional president Juan Jesus Vivas put the figure at up to 60,000.

Sanchez travelled to Ceuta on Friday and appeared before the press alongside Vivas. He described the situation as an attack on Spain and blamed criminal smuggling networks for the escalation. They had deliberately misrepresented a recent ruling by Spain’s Supreme Court in order to encourage people to cross the border. Madrid remains in ongoing contact with the Moroccan authorities, the government said.

The differing estimates show how unclear the situation remains. While Spain’s Interior Ministry assumed at least 50,000 arrivals, the regional government cited a higher figure. According to reports by Spanish and international media, people reached Ceuta by land and sea. The city normally has around 80,000 inhabitants. The influx within a few days is therefore pushing accommodation, administration and emergency services far beyond their regular capacities.

According to the Associated Press news agency, at least 57 people died while attempting the crossings. Some reportedly drowned while travelling through the Mediterranean, while others died in the crush. No independent and complete breakdown of the deaths was initially available on Saturday. The figures for the total number of arrivals may also change as emergency services obtain new information.

Migration pressure on Ceuta had already increased since mid-July. At the end of the month, local authorities had reported more than 1,000 arrivals within a week. The accommodation of unaccompanied minors in particular was considered to be under severe strain even before the latest mass arrival. During the first half of 2026, irregular entries into the enclave had risen significantly compared with the same period the previous year.

For Madrid, the crisis is also diplomatically sensitive. Ceuta lies on the Moroccan coast and forms an external border of the European Union. Despite the events, Sanchez continued to describe Morocco as a partner and referred to talks with Rabat. His government characterises the events as a security crisis worsened by smugglers, rather than as the consequence of a deliberate easing of border controls by Morocco.

Spanish authorities are now recording the identities and immigration status of those who arrived and investigating the circumstances of each crossing. For Ceuta, it is the most serious migration crisis since May 2021, when around 10,000 people reached the enclave within a short period of time.