Ceuta is not just Europe’s migration crisis; it is Africa’s wake-up call - opinion

In late July 2026, tens of thousands of migrants, mostly young Moroccans, crossed into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, leading to dozens of deaths and a major migration emergency. The author argues that the crisis is a wake-up call for Africa, highlighting that a young population is only an advantage if young people believe they have a future at home. She dismisses conspiracy theories blaming Israel, emphasizing the need for African governments to address the underlying reasons for migration.

In the early hours of July 30, 2026, thousands of people began crossing the border from Morocco into the Spanish exclave of Ceuta. By the time Spanish authorities regained control days later, between 50,000 and 60,000 people had crossed, most of them Moroccan and many very young. Dozens died, either drowning at sea or in the chaos of the crossings. Madrid deployed additional security forces to contain what became one of the largest migration emergencies in the enclave's history. Within hours, social media was filled with claims that Israel had engineered the crisis due to tensions between Spain and Israel. The author, Nacima Carino, who works for the Israel-Africa Institute, dismisses these claims as lacking evidence and argues they distract from the real issue, reinforcing antisemitic tropes. She notes that the story of Ceuta began long before current tensions and will continue after them. The author argues that the crisis is a wake-up call for Africa. Africa is the youngest continent, with a median age of about 19, compared to over 40 in Europe. However, a young population is only an advantage if young people believe they have a future where they are. The scenes in Ceuta, and similar events in 2021 and 2022, show that many young Africans are willing to risk their lives to reach Europe, which represents stability and opportunity. The author emphasizes that the underlying reality is that many young people struggle with unemployment, limited social mobility, and economic uncertainty. She calls on African governments to ask why so many young Africans believe their future lies elsewhere, rather than seeking hidden plots. The real scandal, she writes, is that so many African youths have lost confidence that their own countries can offer them a future worth staying for.