'Hadhia', la frontière invisible à laquelle se heurtent les migrants expulsés d'Europe lorsqu'ils retournent au Maroc

A violent racist outbreak erupted in Ceuta, Spain, over the past two days, with organized groups attacking migrants and Muslim residents. The incident unfolded amid tensions following the arrival of tens of thousands of migrants from North Africa, many crossing into Ceuta from Morocco. Reports indicate that these attacks were coordinated through WhatsApp groups, with some participants expressing willingness to go to extreme lengths, including using force to remove foreigners from neighborhoods. The violence escalated rapidly, leading to scenes of chaos, including injured locals and burned containers, as well as large numbers of migrants fleeing from the Playa del Trampolín area ahead of protests involving hundreds of individuals determined to destroy their makeshift camps. The unrest began shortly after the influx of migrants entered Ceuta from Morocco. A demonstration under the banner of “defending Ceuta” turned into a pursuit of newly arrived Maghrebis, with some demonstrators throwing stones, prompting intervention by the National Police. Similar incidents occurred again on August 1st, with the city still crowded and businesses closed. Despite efforts to restore order, the situation remained volatile, particularly in areas near the border, where tensions between residents and newcomers reached new levels. The voluntary return of most of those who had crossed the border on foot or by swimming on July 31st initially brought a temporary relief, allowing some semblance of normalcy. However, this respite was brief. The Spanish government declared a return to normality, which further inflamed local sentiments, as more than 10,000 people remained in Ceuta. Military and police forces were deployed to remove them from the city center, the only area where residents had managed to maintain some routine. These displaced individuals, primarily from Sub-Saharan Africa and a few hundred Maghrebis, were relocated to the Playa del Trampolín camp. In peripheral neighborhoods such as Sidi Embarek, Prince Felipe, and Hadú, families from Morocco found themselves scattered, with local residents setting up safe spaces for women and children. For several days, the streets remained filled with migrants, and shop owners expressed feelings of insecurity. Many residents, interviewed live on television, claimed they could no longer feel safe walking outside, linking crime to all migrants. This sentiment grew stronger as the government’s promise to return everyone without exception proved unrealistic, given legal constraints that prevent the immediate deportation of asylum seekers and minors. An agreement among authorities to establish four new sites to accommodate an initial 1,500 people was announced on August 17th, nearly a month after the crisis began. Almost a month later, the government created a unified command led by Minister Ángel Víctor Torres, who stated during a congressional session that returning all migrants was legally impossible and that laws prohibit such actions from being carried out instantly as demanded by local authorities and national right-wing factions. Meanwhile, messages of hate spread rapidly online, fueled by social media and messaging apps. The Spanish Observatory Against Racism and Xenophobia (Oberaxe) recorded 9,590 anti-migrant messages within 48 hours of the migrant arrivals. Comments on local media posts on platforms like Facebook were rife with insults directed both at migrants and the Spanish government. In many cases, these expressions of hostility reflected broader societal frustrations and fears, contributing to an environment of rising xenophobia and division.