Moroccan security forces have arrested hundreds of migrants attempting to enter the Spanish enclave of Ceuta by land and sea, following a fresh wave of social media calls for a mass crossing.
According to Moroccan state broadcaster Medi 1 TV, authorities arrested 294 migrants from sub-Saharan Africa on Saturday while they were allegedly attempting to reach Ceuta.
Another 61 Moroccan nationals were detained for allegedly helping facilitate the migration attempts.
The arrests came as Moroccan and Spanish authorities tightened security around the border to prevent another large-scale crossing.
SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS TRIGGER FRESH MIGRATION PUSH
The latest attempts followed an increase in social media posts encouraging migrants to travel towards Ceuta.
Authorities responded by restricting movement towards the area and increasing security deployments along the border.
The development comes only about two weeks after a major migration surge in which tens of thousands of people reportedly moved towards Ceuta.
The previous crisis became one of the region's deadliest recent migration episodes.
Official figures put the death toll at at least 90 people, although human rights organisations have reported higher estimates.
The latest arrests suggest that migration pressure around the Spanish enclave remains intense despite the heightened security measures.
MOROCCO TIGHTENS SECURITY AROUND CEUTA
Moroccan authorities have significantly increased security along the border in response to repeated attempts to cross into the Spanish territory.
A senior Moroccan diplomat previously said that more than 20,000 Moroccan security personnel are deployed along the Ceuta border every day.
The diplomat, speaking anonymously, said the deployment costs hundreds of millions of dollars.
Morocco's Interior Ministry did not immediately respond to questions about the latest arrests or the number of security personnel deployed during the latest operation.
WHY DO MIGRANTS TRY TO REACH CEUTA?
Ceuta is a Spanish territory located on Morocco's northern coast and represents one of the few land routes into the European Union from Africa.
Thousands of migrants travel through Morocco every year after fleeing poverty, conflict, political instability and limited economic opportunities.
For many, reaching Ceuta or the nearby Spanish enclave of Melilla represents a potential pathway towards mainland Spain and the wider European Union.
Migrants attempt crossings using different routes, including land approaches to border fences and dangerous sea journeys.
The combination of economic hardship, instability and misinformation spread through social media can contribute to sudden mass movements towards the border.
DEADLY CRISIS STILL FRESH IN MEMORY
The latest crackdown comes after a recent mass migration attempt that overwhelmed parts of the border region.
Tens of thousands of people reportedly moved towards Ceuta following online calls and misinformation.
At least 90 people died according to official figures, although rights groups have claimed that the actual number could be considerably higher.
The deaths highlighted the dangers faced by migrants attempting to cross heavily guarded borders or undertake dangerous journeys by sea.
They also intensified scrutiny of how Morocco and Spain manage migration along one of Europe's most sensitive external borders.
MOROCCO AND SPAIN FACE CONTINUING MIGRATION PRESSURE
The latest arrests underline the difficulty of controlling migration pressure around Ceuta and Melilla.
Morocco plays a crucial role in Spain's efforts to control migration towards Europe, with authorities on both sides frequently coordinating border security and anti-smuggling operations.
However, continued attempts to reach the enclaves show that stricter enforcement alone has not eliminated the underlying drivers of migration.
For migrants fleeing poverty, conflict and instability, Ceuta remains a highly visible gateway to Europe.
The latest arrests therefore offer another warning that the migration crisis around Spain's North African enclaves remains far from over.
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