Moroccan Man Attempts Daring Swim Across Closed Border from Spanish Enclave

Beach users in Tarajal witnessed the scene of a Moroccan who tried to return to his country, after nearly four months of waiting in Ceuta due to the closure of the border between Ceuta and Morocco. "Run, run!" the witnesses of the scene shouted, having noticed the return to his post of the security guard.

These "escapees" generally proceed in the same way. They pretend to bathe, and wait for the slightest inattention of the security guard to cross the 250-meter Tarajal beach, hoping thus to overcome the last obstacle to find their loved ones.

On Friday, the Moroccan followed the same procedure. He went to the border beach and, thinking that the security forces had not spotted him. Arrived at the limit, he was intercepted by an agent who threw himself on him. Struggling, the fugitive managed to get rid of his grip and then jumped into the sea. Witnesses claim he swam to Morocco.

While many Moroccans residing abroad have been repatriated in recent weeks, Morocco ignores its citizens stranded in Ceuta. They can only wait for the borders to reopen.

Many of these Moroccans are trying to escape from Ceuta, with or without success. And the number will continue to rise as long as the Moroccan government does not proceed with their repatriation.