Ceuta, a fragment of Europe in Africa (Swiss Stories 2014, by Olivier Vogelsang) - Swiss Press Award

Ceuta, a fragment of Europe in Africa

Olivier Vogelsang

Ceuta is a Spanish city of 74,000 inhabitants, located in the Strait of Gibraltar, on Moroccan territory. A former Phoenician colony, it was conquered by the Portuguese in 1415 and became a Spanish possession in 1580. Ceuta covers 19 square kilometers and constitutes an important strategic position in the Mediterranean. Although recognized by treaty to the Spanish, the sovereignty of this enclave remains contested by Morocco, since it is located directly on its lands. Today, Ceuta is better known as a gateway for migrants. A barbed wire barrier studded with sensors, 8 km long and 6 meters high, was built by Spain in 2001 at a cost of 37 million francs, subsidized by the European Union. Each year, several thousand illegal immigrants attempt to enter the enclave of Ceuta and are generally directed to temporary residence centers while the Spanish authorities assess their situation. The enclave of Ceuta is also a hub for trafficking, sharing an 8 km border with Morocco and being an hour's drive from the port of Tangier. Every day, thousands of women cross the border laden with enormous bags weighing up to 70 kilos. Portadoras (porters) or mujeres mulas (mule women) are employed by Ceuta's traders to transport goods across the border for sale in the souks of nearby villages. Customs officials turn a blind eye to this trafficking, which alleviates some of the poverty in northern Morocco and boosts Ceuta's trade, as the enclave has no agriculture or industry.