Spain reaffirmed its sovereignty over the North African exclave of Ceuta following a sudden influx of tens of thousands of migrants entering the territory from neighboring Morocco. The incidents, which occurred last week, have raised concerns about the strain on local resources and the broader political implications between the two countries.

During televised remarks on August 3, Spain’s Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares emphasized that Ceuta, along with Melilla—another Spanish exclave in North Africa—are integral parts of Spain and their sovereignty is “unquestionable.” This assertion comes amid ongoing disputes, as Morocco has not recognized Spanish control over these territories since its independence in 1956 and has claimed sovereignty over them.

The surge saw an estimated 60,000 migrants, many of whom entered by swimming around the border fence, cross into Ceuta in a matter of days. Spanish authorities have reported that a significant majority have since returned to Morocco. According to Miguel Angel Perez, the Spanish central government delegate in Ceuta, approximately 2,500 migrants remained in the territory as of Sunday. Meanwhile, Ceuta’s local leader, Juan Jesus Vivas, estimated the number of remaining migrants between 3,000 and 5,000.

Spanish police and military personnel have been actively patrolling the area and escorting groups of migrants back to Morocco. Humanitarian concerns remain high, particularly regarding the welfare of children: the charity Save the Children reported that about 1,000 of those who remain are minors without adequate protection. The organization highlighted that Ceuta’s child protection services are equipped to accommodate only around 100 children. Observations by international reporters on Saturday revealed hundreds of children taking refuge in a warehouse near the border, many reporting a lack of food.

Spain’s Migration Minister Elma Saiz acknowledged the challenges posed by the unexpected magnitude of the influx, stating on Monday that the scale exceeded initial alerts and stressed that the response would have been impossible without cooperation from Moroccan authorities.

Some analysts suggest that Morocco may have tolerated or facilitated the mass crossing as a means to exert diplomatic pressure on Spain, particularly in light of Madrid’s recent efforts to strengthen relations with Algeria, a rival of Rabat. Despite the tensions, the Spanish government has refrained from publicly criticizing Morocco over the incident, opting instead to highlight collaboration between the two countries to manage the situation.