A court in Morocco has increased the sentences of eight migrants convicted over a tragic incident on the border with the Spanish enclave of Melilla last June. The men face up to four years in prison for crimes including illegal entry into Morocco.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has met up with his Moroccan counterpart in Rabat to reset his country's "strategic partnership" with regard to migration and economic partnership. The Spanish exclaves of Ceuta and Melilla were also major topics of discussion.
A Moroccan court has increased the sentences of 13 migrants to three years over last year's deadly crossing attempt into the Spanish enclave of Melilla, their lawyer has said. At least 23 migrants died in the stampede.
The bodies of 13 Moroccans have been recovered after their boat sank off the country's southern coast. They were reportedly attempting to reach Spain's Canary Islands. In a separate development, some migrants from Morocco reportedly made it into the Spanish territory of Melilla over New Year’s Eve.
Prosecutors investigating the tragic death of at least 23 people say there was no evidence of misconduct by Spanish guards.
More than 11,000 migrants have died trying to reach Spain in the past five years, equating to a daily average of six people. That's according to a new report by Spanish NGO Caminando Fronteras.
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.
In a report on the investigation of this year's Melilla border tragedy, Spain's national ombudsman has questioned the official version of the facts provided by the interior ministry. Several aspects emerged from the inquiries concerning the Spanish police, including the use of force and a failure to rescue.
A member of Spain's parliament says Spanish police launched scores of tear gas projectiles in an attempt to prevent a large number of migrants from breaking into the enclave of Melilla from Morocco in June.
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's practice of pushing back migrants from its North African enclaves to Morocco is controversial. But is it permitted by law?