Violence and unrest broke out near the Morocco–Melilla border after a fresh surge of migrants attempting to enter Spanish territory triggered clashes, fires and a major security response on both sides of the frontier.
Videos circulating online showed cars and vans engulfed in flames in the Moroccan border town of Beni-Enzar (Beni Ansar), which borders the Spanish enclave of Melilla. The unrest came as hundreds of migrants gathered in repeated attempts to cross into Spanish territory, with authorities struggling to contain the influx.
The Melilla situation unfolded alongside a larger migration crisis affecting Ceuta, Spain’s other North African enclave, where between 2,000 and 3,000 migrants crossed the border in recent days. Spanish authorities responded by deploying additional police officers and military personnel, while Moroccan security forces used water cannons and reinforced border positions to prevent further crossings. At least nine people have died during the latest attempts to reach Spanish territory, according to Spanish officials.
The unrest has disrupted normal life in the border region, with some businesses closing temporarily and roads around the crossings experiencing heavy security restrictions. Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is expected to visit Ceuta as Madrid and Rabat continue coordinating efforts to restore order and manage migration flows.
Melilla and Ceuta remain the European Union’s only land borders with Africa, making them frequent flashpoints during periods of heightened migration. Similar large-scale crossing attempts have occurred in previous years, most notably in 2021 and 2022, prompting repeated debates over border security, migration policy and humanitarian protection.
The latest events have reignited political debate across Europe, with supporters of stricter border controls pointing to the violence as evidence of mounting pressure on the EU’s external frontier, while humanitarian groups continue calling for safer migration pathways and better protection for vulnerable migrants.
