Thousands rally across Spain for Ceuta as Costa towns join national show of support

Residents across the Costa del Sol, Almería, Costa Blanca, Murcia and Mallorca joined nationwide demonstrations for Ceuta on Wednesday September 2, as the border crisis continued to place growing pressure on Pedro Sánchez’s government.

The demonstrations marked Ceuta Day, but the message travelled far beyond the North African city. More than 260 municipalities backed the call from Spain’s Federation of Municipalities and Provinces, FEMP, for people to gather outside their town halls in a show of solidarity.

For many expats living on the Costas, the scale of the response showed how a crisis at Spain’s southern frontier has become a major national issue.

Costa del Sol towns join the response

Málaga province had the highest number of planned events in Andalucía. People were called to gather in Málaga city as well as Mijas, Fuengirola, Benalmádena, Torremolinos, Marbella, Estepona, Nerja, Vélez Málaga, Rincón de la Victoria and other municipalities.

The gatherings were part of a coordinated nationwide message that Ceuta should not be left to face the consequences of the mass crossings alone.

They followed an earlier show of support from towns on the coast. Read how Costa del Sol towns joined the nationwide support for Ceuta.

Almería city joined the demonstrations, alongside Roquetas de Mar, Berja, Albox, Macael, Olula del Río and Huércal Overa.

On the Costa Blanca, gatherings were held or planned in Alicante, Benidorm, Calpe, Jávea, Torrevieja, Orihuela, Guardamar, Santa Pola, Elche and other towns. Elche reportedly drew around 7,500 people to Plaza de Baix.

Murcia also saw a strong response. More than 20 municipalities took part, with the Government Delegation reporting more than 20,000 people at the gathering in Murcia city.

In Mallorca, Palma held one of the day’s largest gatherings. The town hall estimated 19,000 people attended, while the Government Delegation put the figure closer to 8,000.

The demonstrations were strongly supported across the rest of Spain too, with major gatherings reported in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Bilbao and cities throughout Andalucía. Madrid’s Government Delegation estimated that around 50,000 people attended the central rally in Cibeles, while the Andalucía delegation said more than 160,000 people joined events across the region.

What the rallies were demanding

The FEMP presented the gatherings as an act of solidarity with Ceuta, its residents and the public workers responding to the crisis. Its manifesto called for more state resources, effective control of the border and greater involvement from the European Union.

However, many rallies also became protests against Sánchez’s management of the crisis. PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo and Vox leader Santiago Abascal attended the main demonstration in Madrid, where there were repeated calls for the Prime Minister to resign.

The political pressure has intensified after reports alleging that Spanish police intelligence identified Moroccan security personnel as helping direct parts of the mass crossing. Sánchez’s government has denied there was intelligence evidence of Moroccan involvement.

Read our report on why the alleged police documents have created fresh pressure for Sánchez.