After the mass onslaught, the crisis in Ceuta continues

This means that all 82 dead have now been buried Mass border crossing were recovered from the sea on the Spanish side at the end of July. But almost a month after around 80,000 people reached Ceuta within a few hours, the crisis there is far from over.

A lot is still unclear

The Spanish government had announced that it would quickly send back irregular immigrants who did not leave Ceuta voluntarily. However, thousands are still in the autonomous city, sleeping on the streets or in makeshift shelters. The exact number (as well as that of asylum applications and returns) remains unclear.

The political and legal process of coming to terms with the events is only getting off to a slow start in Madrid. After much wrangling, a central crisis command was created on Tuesday. Head of Government Pedro Sanchez convened the National Security Council to classify the crisis as a “matter of national security interest.” 25 million euros were approved for the care of unaccompanied minors. But their number is still open. Around 1,500 have so far been officially registered by the authorities.

Asylum law reformed

In the first Council of Ministers after the summer break, the left-wing central government also initiated a reform of immigration and asylum law. This is intended to align Spain’s legislation with the European Union’s Asylum and Migration Pact. This week, seven ministers will appear before Congress to explain the causes and course of the Ceuta crisis.

Already the first appearance of the Defense Minister Margaret Robles revealed distortions within the government: Contrary to the previous line, she explained that the Spanish secret service had warned of activity on the Moroccan border and a possible mass crossing. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska contradicted almost simultaneously in the Moncloa Palace: “There was no report whatsoever that would have indicated that what happened would happen on July 30th.”

At the same time, the left-wing coalition partner Sumar and the opposition are growing dissatisfied with the Socialists’ crisis management: “It was obvious throughout Spain that the president had to cancel his vacation in order to deal with the crisis. But that didn’t happen,” said the spokeswoman for the left-wing Podemos. Sánchez only returned from his summer stay in Lanzarote on Monday. He will address Congress on September 3rd.

Youne’s brother, meanwhile, shares his story in Spanish media. His brother’s body, he says to the radio station Chain Beingshould actually have been transferred home. But Morocco prevented that. He himself is still in Ceuta – but hidden from the authorities.