Ceuta border returns to normal after days of unrest

Moroccan authorities began clearing burned vehicles and debris from the Ceuta border area on Saturday as traffic gradually returned to normal following days of mass crossing attempts and violent clashes.

Cleanup crews and specialized equipment were deployed around the crossing to remove vehicles torched during confrontations between security forces and people seeking to enter the Spanish-controlled enclave on Thursday night and Friday morning.

Workers also cleared stones and other debris left on the road after security forces were targeted during the unrest.

The return of shared taxis to the crossing provided another sign that normal activity was resuming. Some vehicles transported passengers between the border and the nearby city of Fnideq.

Movement through the crossing was close to normal in both directions, including for Moroccans living abroad returning for summer holidays and travelers heading toward Europe through Ceuta.

A heavy security presence remained in place around the crossing. Officers continued overseeing the voluntary return of migrants from Ceuta to Fnideq, although the numbers were significantly lower than those recorded on Friday.

Some migrants, particularly people from sub-Saharan Africa, were still seen attempting to swim toward Ceuta as others returned in the opposite direction after reporting hunger, thirst and mistreatment inside Ceuta.

Moroccan authorities also continued transporting migrants intercepted during operations in Fnideq and surrounding areas to other parts of the country.

The group included minors and people gathered near the border while searching for transport back to the cities and regions from which they had travelled.

The contrasting movement reflected the aftermath of the crisis: some migrants continued trying to reach Ceuta despite the risks, while others abandoned the route after experiencing difficult conditions inside the enclave.