On Thursday, July 30, thousands of young Moroccans gather for Castillejos, a town near the border with Ceuta, wey be Spanish enclave for North Africa. According to EFE news agency, hundreds of them jump the protective fences wey no get police on guard at that time, and they enter Ceuta. The Moroccan auxiliary forces wey dey handle safety on ground comot as the youths pass.
One of the youths dey shout: “We dey go for the fence, not for sea, to the border. Inshalla we go make am.” Many of them reach Castillejos for cars and motorbikes. Security agents wey EFE ask say they no know wetin cause this big gathering of youths wey wan cross the fence. This happen during Morocco‘s Throne Festival.
Before midday, thousands of people move toward the border perimeter of Ceuta for action wey look like dem plan am well. The groups dey come from different parts of the city, walking, on motorbikes, and in cars, until dem gather a few hundred meters from the fence. Among the crowd, there be whole families, women, children, young people, and old people wey all move together toward the border.
Moroccan police set up a cordon for some access points, but many groups still continue their march through the hills around the border perimeter. For those areas, dozens of people manage to reach the seawall and the barbed wire without any police stopping them. At the same time, some other people jump for the sea, hoping to enter Ceuta by going around the border line. Others walk parallel to the fence toward the Spanish barrier.
For one point along the perimeter, about twelve police try to stop youths wey dey use a hole dug under the barbed wire to pass. That hole allow most of the group to cross earlier. The police try to block the flow of people, but dozens still approach the same place to enter Spanish territory. During their work, Moroccan police arrest several people, including two from sub-Saharan Africa, as EFE see for the spot.
About 500 meters from the border, twelve Moroccan police stay at a checkpoint, but the human tide keep coming nonstop from different parts of the area. This big attempt to reach Spain happen on the same day Morocco dey celebrate the 27th anniversary of King Mohammed VI’s enthronement. The king dey host a reception for M’diq (Rincón), about 20 kilometers from Castillejos.
