The invasion of Ceuta: Morocco's message to Spain
Last week, about 70,000 people crossed the border from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, with most returning shortly after and a small portion seeking to stay and immigrate to Spain. Behind what appears to be a wave of migration lies a long-standing territorial conflict, with indications that the Moroccan government encouraged the infiltration to demonstrate control over the territory — a move reminiscent of similar tactics by other transit countries. Dr. Yossi Harpaz from Tel Aviv University explains how migration has become a tool of hybrid warfare between states.
Listen to "The Headline" — the daily news podcast of ynet. In this episode: the influx of tens of thousands of migrants from Morocco to Spain.
"The influx of migrants to Ceuta is a very interesting story that is happening on two levels simultaneously. On one hand, there is a story here about migration. There are thousands of migrants here who stayed and are now trying to get absorbed in Spain and the European Union. On the other hand, there is a move here that is not necessarily related to migration, but to a long-standing territorial conflict between Morocco and Spain. There are strong indications that the Moroccan government allowed and even encouraged this invasion. This is an event that is both an invasion from a Spanish perspective, and migration. The latest estimates speak of 70,000 people who crossed the border — that is a crazy number — of whom several thousand are still there," explains Dr. Yossi Harpaz from Tel Aviv University.
"Many European leaders are already absorbing harsh criticism regarding migration and are dealing with calls to handle illegal migration. The images we saw from Ceuta last week are essentially the worst nightmare of those leaders. This is the thing they most want to prevent and do not want to show their voters. Most of the people who entered are Moroccan citizens, a large part of whom never intended to reach Spain. They crossed the border to reach Ceuta out of a perception that it is sovereign Moroccan territory. They came to demonstrate sovereignty and did not necessarily have a desire to immigrate to Spain or Europe. But there were quite a few migrants there from all over Africa, whose motivation is clear. They come from countries whose situation is not good, and when they arrive in Europe, they submit an asylum request that allows them to stay there for months and even years."
"There is a use of migration here as a weapon. States, usually transit states like Morocco, that border the rich countries in Europe or the United States, use migration like a weapon — as a means of pressure that allows them to threaten the rich countries and force things upon them. Morocco has done this several times against Spain, Turkey blackmailed the European Union, Belarus tried to carry out a move against Poland through migration. This is a broader phenomenon in which states make such use of migration — usually non-democratic states against democratic states."
If you missed it: you are invited to listen to another episode of ours, on the real estate market crisis.
