In the Spanish exclave of Ceuta On Thursday, 27 August 2026, Ceuta saw a third consecutive night of protests. The situation escalated with arson at makeshift camps, a hours-long blockade of an aid truck belonging to Cruz Roja and police operations. The incidents were concentrated on the beaches of Playa de Benítez and Playa del Trampolín and later around Plaza de África.
According to multiple media reports, residents stopped a Cruz Roja truck at the entrance to Playa del Trampolín. It was due to distribute food and water. At the same time, groups of demonstrators entered makeshift settlements on the beaches and set fire to belongings and shelters. The Policía Nacional and the Guardia Civil arrived with additional officers, put out fires, cleared blockades and opened investigations into property damage and obstruction of humanitarian aid.
Clashes between demonstrators, migrants and security forces were reported overnight. Authorities and aid organisations initially gave no consistent figures for the number of people injured. According to security sources, arrests were made. Cruz Roja said its teams had at times been prevented from entering, but resumed aid deliveries once police had secured the area.
In the evening, some of the demonstrations moved to Plaza de África, where speakers criticised those responsible for the Gobierno central and called for firmer action by the state. Madrid called for closer coordination with the Moroccan authorities. Human rights organisations warned that the blockade of humanitarian aid and destruction of camps endangered people seeking protection.
The protests come amid continuing pressure on Ceuta, almost a month after a large influx of people from Morocco overwhelmed the city’s reception capacity. Since then, spontaneous demonstrations have sprung up in several neighbourhoods, some coordinated through chat groups. The security situation is considered fragile: observers point out that demonstrations, police operations and shortages of supplies could overlap again at any time. Authorities in Ceuta and representatives of the Gobierno central say they are working to maintain public order while keeping humanitarian aid available.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).