Moroccan security forces blocked hundreds of predominantly sub-Saharan migrants hiding in hills near Fnideq from reaching Ceuta on Friday, after social media appeals targeted 15 August for a new mass crossing. Thousands of Moroccan officers were mobilised to prevent a repeat of the late-July surge, while additional razor wire and Nato-style barriers were erected on the Moroccan side of the frontier.
Spain has deployed 880 national police officers, roughly 2,000 soldiers and 700 Guardia Civil agents inside Ceuta. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said all necessary forces would be used to restore normality and described the July influx as an exceptional event, with around 5,000 migrants still in the enclave.
The death toll from the July crossing remains disputed: Spanish authorities recovered 83 bodies from the sea, while humanitarian groups including Caminando Fronteras estimate at least 141 people died on both sides of the border.