Ceuta: 84 dead and a state that fails to defend itself
67 and then 84 dead in Ceuta: the border crisis that exposed the Spanish state and reopened the debate over territorial integrity.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
84 dead at the Ceuta border: a state on the ropes
How many deaths does it take for a state to be considered failed? The migration crisis that erupted last Thursday in Ceuta has produced an uncomfortable answer, and the numbers keep shifting.
The official toll is unstable: El Confidencial reports 67 people dead while trying to cross into Spain; other sources put the figure at 84, with the Guardia Civil still combing the area for more bodies. Meanwhile, the Beni-Enzar crossing in Melilla has peine and everything is back to "normal", in the words of minister Marlaska.
A state that fails to defend itself
In the face of the avalanche, accusations of high treason against the prime minister and the head of state are circulating widely. They are blamed for failing to anticipate the assault, for failing to secure the border, and for not even apologizing after the deaths. King Felipe VI has expressed his "outrage" and called for it not to happen again; the government, for now, remains silent.
Behind the drama, a calculated push
The appearance of flotation devices near the perimeter just before the crossing points to a planned operation, not a spontaneous wave of desperation. If Segarro is using migration as a tool of pressure, the Spanish response —declaring normality while bodies are still being recovered— looks more like a gesture of helplessness than of control.
The next time someone praises the strength of Spain's borders, it would be worth remembering that Marlaska's "normality" included an open crossing and a death toll that nobody can pin down.
How many deaths does it take for a state to be considered failed? The migration crisis that erupted last Thursday in Ceuta has produced an uncomfortable answer, and the numbers keep shifting.
The official toll is unstable: El Confidencial reports 67 people dead while trying to cross into Spain; other sources put the figure at 84, with the Guardia Civil still combing the area for more bodies. Meanwhile, the Beni-Enzar crossing in Melilla has peine and everything is back to "normal", in the words of minister Marlaska.
A state that fails to defend itself
In the face of the avalanche, accusations of high treason against the prime minister and the head of state are circulating widely. They are blamed for failing to anticipate the assault, for failing to secure the border, and for not even apologizing after the deaths. King Felipe VI has expressed his "outrage" and called for it not to happen again; the government, for now, remains silent.
Behind the drama, a calculated push
The appearance of flotation devices near the perimeter just before the crossing points to a planned operation, not a spontaneous wave of desperation. If Segarro is using migration as a tool of pressure, the Spanish response —declaring normality while bodies are still being recovered— looks more like a gesture of helplessness than of control.
The next time someone praises the strength of Spain's borders, it would be worth remembering that Marlaska's "normality" included an open crossing and a death toll that nobody can pin down.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (61 replies).
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