Without fearing the fatal consequences that they know firsthand, a new wave of young Moroccans is planning the assault on the Ceuta fence this Monday, September 30. So far, there have been six mass entry attempts into the Ceuta peninsula, the last of which took place barely two weeks ago and was foiled by a large force of the Royal Moroccan Gendarmerie.
Neither the organization nor the number of attackers is a coincidence. The Moroccan media calls them NEET, which is what we call it in Spain. niniand come together under the TikTok hashtag “harraga» (in French, something like “those who burn”, in reference to their papers), present in numerous posts on social networks. Also in a large graffiti in the industrial zone of Tarajal.
The explanations for this organized phenomenon of attacks by young people who risk their lives to enter Europe can be summed up above all by their feeling of uprootedness and their absolute pessimism. The containment maneuvers of the security forces, which range from pressurized water jets to rubber blows to extendable batons, have no deterrent effect.
Mainly because their meeting place is social networks, where they coordinate and check in while crossing the border, walking along the sea wall or walking on the beach. They feed each other and reach the rest of Moroccans of the same age and with a similar situation.
Dozens of videos published in recent weeks show young Moroccans organizing and exchanging Tips for bypassing border controls and access the autonomous city. In many cases, the messages are imbued with a mixture of despair and hope, but also a sense of challenge to enter Europe.
Digital platforms are playing an increasingly important role in how migrants plan their journeys, according to a recent report from the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
“Social media not only allows sharing information about routes and methods, but also creates a narrative that often, idealizes border crossing and hides real dangers” says the document.
The phenomenon not only affects Moroccan youth, but is also beginning to worry local authorities and migration experts. According to National Police sources, in recent days an unusual increase in activity has been detected in areas near the border.
The Ceuta government has already increased its police presence near the barrier and coordinated its efforts with Morocco to try to contain any attempts at illegal entry. Contacts with Rabat are continuous and additional prevention measures have already been requested for September 30.
