The human rights organization Amnesty International has accused the governments of Spain and Morocco of using "unlawful and lethal force" at the border between Melilla and Morocco in June this year. Amnesty holds them responsible for the deaths of at least 37 people and 77 missing.
A data-driven documentary produced for the BBC's "Africa Eye" program reveals details on the deadly events that took place on the border of Spain's Melilla enclave on June 24, leaving at least 23 migrants dead and many others still unaccounted for. The film raises some serious accusations against both the Spanish and Moroccan governments.
Moroccan police have arrested 25 African migrants near the border with the Spanish enclave Melilla, where at least 23 people died in June while attempting to cross the border. Meanwhile, the Spanish ombusdman has accused Spain of violating migrant rights during the same incident.
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.