Ceuta Leader Says He Warned Government Before Migrant Surge

Juan Vivas, the president of the Spanish autonomous city of Ceuta, has claimed he alerted the national government days before a large group of migrants arrived there, but that officials failed to respond adequately.

Vivas said he telephoned Moncloa, the seat of the Spanish central government, on Monday, August 27, and was told to remain calm.

The following day, he formally requested that the government declare a State of Alarm, a constitutional measure that grants authorities extraordinary powers to manage serious crises.

By Wednesday, according to Vivas, he was informed that there was no legal basis to justify such a declaration, suggesting officials did not consider the situation urgent enough.

On Thursday, however, a sudden and overwhelming arrival of migrants took place, which Vivas described as an "avalanche".

The Ceuta leader has since branded the government's handling of the situation as "incomprehensible", arguing that his early warnings should have prompted faster action.

Ceuta, a small Spanish enclave on the North African coast, has repeatedly experienced sudden surges in migrant arrivals due to its geographic position bordering Morocco.

Vivas's remarks highlight a recurring tension between local authorities, who often call for rapid intervention, and the central government, which must weigh legal and political considerations before declaring emergency measures.

The State of Alarm has historically been used in Spain for major crises, including public health emergencies, and its declaration requires the government to determine that ordinary legal tools are insufficient to address the situation.

No further details have been given about the exact number of migrants involved or the government's official response following Thursday's arrival, and Moncloa has not yet issued a public statement addressing Vivas's specific claims.