Violent Protests Erupt in Ceuta Over Migrant Influx

Violent clashes erupted in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta on August 27 and 28, 2026, as residents protested a mass influx of migrants from Morocco that occurred in July. Protesters stormed El Trampolín and Benítez beaches, where they tore down and set fire to makeshift shelters. The Spanish National Police used rubber bullets to disperse the crowds, while demonstrators blocked food and medical convoys from the International Committee of the Red Cross.

The Government of Spain responded to the unrest by establishing a single command for the city and allocating 25 million euros for unaccompanied minors. Madrid has also increased identification and repatriation efforts. However, a significant discrepancy exists regarding the scale of the crisis; the central government estimates between 3,500 and 7,000 migrants remain in the city, while local authorities claim the number exceeds 10,000.

Parallel violence occurred when approximately 70 migrants ambushed a military vehicle with stones, resulting in the injury of one soldier and the arrest of 12 Moroccan nationals. Amid the turmoil, protesters demanded the deportation of migrants and the resignation of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. While Inclusion Minister Elma Saiz Delgado characterized the city as an example of coexistence, Ceuta Finance Councillor Kissy Chandiramani reported that tension in the city remains very high.