Moroccan authorities in Nador have dispersed 1,300 irregular migrants from the border city to other regions in the country, some of whom were involved in Friday’s mass crossing attempt.
According to Spanish news agency EFE, local authorities evacuated hundreds of migrants towards the city of Khouribga, 600 km from Melilla, and to several other cities in the last 24 hours.
Citing local sources, EFE reports that this procedure will continue for the upcoming hours, in alignment with Morocco’s dispersion policy.
The same source estimated that the 1,300 migrants were arrested on Friday, when the mass crossing attempt occurred, resulting in 23 fatalities.
On Saturday, an additional 250 migrants were apprehended during raids carried out in mountains and towns near the Spanish enclave of Melilla.
The detained 1,300 migrants were removed from Nador, and relocated to several Moroccan cities, namely Beni Mellal, Safi, Khouribga, Errachidia, Fkih Ben Saleh and Taroudant, reports EFE.
An approximate 400 sub-Saharan migrants are currently camping in a forest near the enclave, according to local Nador authorities, most of whom are from West African origin.
Nador’s first instance court opened an investigation on Friday’s 65 arrested migrants, 32 of whom began their trials this Tuesday, with the hearings set to continue untill next Monday.
The Moroccan Prosecutor’s Office charged the migrants with “illegal entry into Moroccan soil,” “violence against law enforcement officers,” “armed gathering” and “refusal to comply,” in addition to charges of “participation in a criminal gang to organize and facilitate illegal immigration abroad.”
The Prosecutor’s office charged the other 32 migrants, including a minor, with more serious crimes, namely “human trafficking,” “the kidnapping of a Moroccan security officer to use as a hostage,” “arson,” and “violence and insults against law enforcement officers.”
The prosecution of Friday’s irregular migrants has sparked outrage among many human rights NGOs, who claim that the migrants were subjected to inhumane treatment from Moroccan and Spanish border officers.
In a statement following the tragedy, Spanish President Pedro Sanchez blamed “human trafficking gangs“ for the devastation that occurred at Africa’s sole border with the European Union last week.
The highest authorities from both Morocco and Spain have assured a thorough investigation will be carried out, to determine the instigators of this unfortunate event.
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