Spain and Morocco resolve to discourage irregular migration
Spain and Morocco are seeking to cooperate in reducing irregular border crossings after resolving a year-long diplomatic crisis over a dispute relating to the territory of Western Sahara.
Spain and Morocco are seeking to cooperate in reducing irregular border crossings after resolving a year-long diplomatic crisis over a dispute relating to the territory of Western Sahara.
The body of a man, believed to be a young migrant, was found on Saturday close to one of the seawalls in the port of Melilla, said the Moroccan Human Rights Association. The news came as Spain announced it would extend the closure of the borders between its enclaves and Morocco for at least 15 more days.
Almost 300 migrants attempted to enter the Spanish enclave Ceuta on the African continent earlier this week. At least five people were arrested by border guards.
The route from Africa to Spain continues to claim victims. On Thursday last week, a young migrant died while attempting to swim from Morocco to the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, while a new shipwreck with 64 people missing was reported off the southern coast of Western Sahara.
A Ceuta court has upheld a suspension for the repatriation of nine migrant minors to Morocco. They had arrived in the Spanish enclave in May without any adults accompanying them.
Following legal action by rights campaigners a Spanish court on Monday suspended the repatriation to Morocco of a group of unaccompanied minors who crossed into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in May.
Morocco is to facilitate the re-entry of stranded unaccompanied minors who recently entered the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, after thousands crossed the border in May.
The general prosecutor's office in Spain has opened an inquiry into whether any migrants under age 18 were pushed back among those that were forced to leave the Ceuta enclave after the arrival of thousands of people in only a few days from Morocco.
The Spanish government is hoping some of its mainland regions will agree to take on some of the more than 1,500 unaccompanied minors who arrived in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, on the African continent, over the last few days.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told reporters that the more than 8,000 arrivals in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta were a "huge crisis for Spain and the whole of Europe." Members of the European Commission too have called the arrivals "worrying," and called for stronger partnerships to manage migration.
Thousands of migrants, many of them minors, have swum or sailed across the EU's land border with Africa. Some believe Morocco deliberately hobbled its border control measures.
Around 150 migrants attempted to storm a section of the border fence between Morocco and the Spanish enclave Melilla, Spanish authorities say. 87 people reportedly succeeded in crossing the border.