Thousands protest in Madrid over Ceuta migration crisis

Thousands of demonstrators gathered in Madrid on Saturday to protest against the Spanish government’s handling of the recent migration crisis in the North African enclave of Ceuta. Participants, holding Spanish flags and chanting slogans like "Ceuta is not for sale," accused the administration of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez of failing to protect the country's borders and demanded the holding of early general elections.

The protest was organized by the right-leaning civil platform Sociedad Civil Espanola, with active support from the conservative People’s Party (PP) and the far-right Vox party. The crisis began on July 30 and 31 when a mass influx of migrants entered Ceuta from Morocco. While most returned quickly, thousands remained in the city for weeks, living in the streets and placing immense strain on local resources. Sources provide varying figures on the scale of the migration: most reports cite over 70,000 arrivals, while one source, the Famagusta Gazette, estimates the number of migrants at 80,000.

This incident has significantly deepened the existing political divide between Spain’s socialist government and the conservative opposition. As the situation remains a contentious point of national debate, pressure on the current administration to address border security and management continues to mount.