Spain's Ceuta and Melilla remain flashpoints in EU‑Africa migration

The Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla sit on the North African coast and constitute the only land borders between the European Union and Africa. Their proximity to the mainland makes them primary entry points for irregular migration to continental Europe. Both cities are surrounded by high fences topped with barbed wire, surveillance cameras and watchtowers; attempts to cross have resulted in deaths and injuries.

Ceuta, with about 84,000 residents, has been under Spanish control since 1640, while Melilla, home to roughly 87,000 people, has been Spanish since 1497. Both are autonomous cities with a status similar to Spain’s other autonomous regions. Morocco claims the territories as part of its sovereign land, describing them as “colonial prisons,” and the dispute has long strained diplomatic relations between Madrid and Rabat. The enclaves serve as commercial and military hubs linking Africa with Europe, and thousands of Moroccans travel daily to work or shop there, while many young migrants view the cities as the first step toward a life in Spain and the wider EU.