Sudanese migrants in Nador to attempt assault on Melilla, Spanish media

Spanish media is claiming that some 2,500 Sudanese in Nador are awaiting for instructions to attempt another mass entry into Melilla.

Two groups of Sudanese migrants in the vicinity of Jbel Gurugu and Jbel Ouichane are allegedly awaiting orders from ‘mafias,’ to jump the Melilla fence, sources told the Spanish daily, La Razon.

Of the 64 people prosecuted in the case, several agreed that decisions on how and when to cross the Melilla fence are coordinated and communicated on a Facebook group between the different members of a trafficking network led by a Malian called Boss from the Algerian town on Maghnia.

According to the migrants, once in the mountains near Nador, they organize themselves in forest camps waiting for the moment to jump the fence.

They said planning the June 24 assault took place in a hierarchical structure with a leader and subgroups commanded by a dozen bosses who would monitor the forests, resolve problems, look for food, or train migrants on using weapons such as stones, sticks, and knives.

When thousands of migrants assaulted the Melilla border on June 24, leading to the deadliest toll ever recorded on the border, the group was a few kilometers from the fence. In the forefront the leaders and people trained to resist the police led the march, others were in charge of opening the fence the migrants told the court.

The June 24 events raised a global outcry on violence against migrants in the assault that Moroccan and Spanish authorities say was marked by the use of very violent methods by the migrants. At least 23 people died.