Trouble at Moroccan Ports

Ceuta and Melilla are Spanish enclaves situated in the north of Morocco. Both these ports are common entry points for visitors to Morocco who travel by ferry from Spain. Ceuta and Melilla are also popular points of departure for African immigrants trying to make their way to Europe. Clashes between illegal immigrants trying to climb over the fences to make it to Spanish soil and authorities trying to stop them are commonplace. This week however the death toll escalated and the BBC reports that 5 men died in Ceuta. The army has been sent in and if you are planning to use these ports it's important to stay tuned.

The BBC has a good basic overview of the Spanish enclaves whose political existence has always been controversial.

For more information about ferries and possible alternate routes to Morocco see my article about Getting to Morocco.

I would like to add a note about one of my favorite African movie makers, Sorious Samura. He has documented the plight of Africans trying to make it to Europe in an excellent documentary called Exodus.