50,000 Protest in Madrid Demanding Sánchez Resign Over 72,000-Migrant Ceuta Crisis
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Sep 2
50,000 Protest in Madrid Demanding Sánchez Resign Over 72,000-Migrant Ceuta Crisis
3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Sep 2
Summary
More than 50,000 people rallied in Madrid on Wednesday, part of nationwide protests demanding Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez resign over the government's handling of Ceuta's migrant influx.
At least 72,000 migrants crossed from Morocco into Ceuta on July 30-31; most have returned, but up to 5,000 still remain in camps, on beaches and in the streets, fueling unrest in the enclave.
A police report submitted to Spain's National Court said Moroccan security forces showed "total permissiveness" and deployed fewer officers than usual, increasing pressure on Sánchez after he said Morocco was not responsible.
Opposition leaders Alberto Núñez Feijóo and Santiago Abascal used the rallies to accuse the government of abandoning Ceuta, while Sánchez has blamed trafficking gangs and online misinformation and Morocco has denied involvement.
The crisis has reopened a long-running flashpoint with Morocco over Ceuta, where social media posts encouraged crossings and at least 100 people died trying to swim around the border fence, according to the mayor.
Why is Spain's Prime Minister defending Morocco's border actions despite leaked police reports exposing their total permissiveness during the deadly surge?
With the new EU Migration Pact active, why did Spain refuse to trigger the crisis mechanism during its largest border emergency?
Who is truly behind the viral social media maps and fake legal rulings that lured 72,000 people into a deadly border trap?
The 2026 Ceuta Border Crisis: Inside the 72,000-Migrant Surge and Its Impact on Spain, Morocco, and the EU
Overview
In July 2026, Ceuta faced a massive crisis when 72,000 migrants crossed from Morocco, overwhelming local infrastructure and sparking intense social tensions and protests. This surge was fueled by economic hardship in Morocco, legal changes in Spain that limited immediate deportations, and misinformation spread by trafficking networks. The crisis exposed the EU’s reliance on Morocco for border control and led to emergency financial aid, new physical barriers, and political polarization in Spain ahead of the 2027 elections. The EU responded by deepening migration partnerships with Morocco, but the situation highlighted ongoing vulnerabilities and divisions within Europe’s migration policy.