Melilla: The mass attempt by 2,000 sub-Saharan migrants to cross into the Spanish enclave of Melilla in North Africa continues to be a somber chapter in migration history. To this day, the exact number of deaths from the incident remains unknown.
According to Global Voices, what began as an ordinary Friday morning in the Autonomous City of Melilla quickly turned into a day of bloodshed and uncertainty. This incident not only marked a turning point in Spanish, Moroccan, and European migration policies but also left a profound impact on the region’s narrative. The group of migrants, primarily from Sudan, attempted to breach the border fence at the Barrio Chino checkpoint, resulting in dozens of deaths and disappearances.
Three years have passed, yet there is still no confirmed death toll or trace of many who attempted the crossing. Amnesty International reports at least 37 confirmed deaths and 73 missing individuals. Caminando Fronteras estimates 40 dead and 77 missing, while AMDH-Nador, in collaboration with Border Forensics, reports 27 deaths and over 70 missing. A coalition of 74 NGOs also addressed the UN, stating that at least 37 people were killed and more than 70 remain unaccounted for.
The official Moroccan account reports 23 migrant deaths, two Moroccan police officers killed, and numerous injuries among migrants and security personnel. This version has been endorsed by Spain’s Ministry of the Interior. However, an independent investigation by El País, Lighthouse Reports, Le Monde, Der Spiegel, and Enass alleged that at least one migrant died on Spanish soil. Amnesty International also claimed that Spanish forces conducted 470 “hot returns,” forcibly sending migrants who had crossed back to Morocco.
Survivors of the incident were reportedly transported to remote areas in Morocco, and their current whereabouts are unknown. While some may have continued their journeys through other migration routes, such as Libya, Algeria, or Tunisia, no reliable sources confirm this.
Investigations following the tragic events have yielded no consequences. On June 28, 2022, Spain’s Public Prosecutor initiated an investigation to examine the actions of Spanish authorities. However, by December 23 of the same year, the case was closed, citing a lack of evidence of criminal conduct. Similarly, Moroccan authorities launched an inquiry into their security forces’ actions, which was formally closed in June 2024, defending the gendarmerie’s response to what they described as a violent assault by migrants.
Despite these investigations, Melilla remains a critical stop on migratory routes to Europe. Daily life in the city has resumed, yet the memory of that day lingers over its residents and the migrants passing through. Although no border crossing of such magnitude has occurred since 2022, smaller attempts have been recorded. The main route into Melilla is now via the sea, with approximately 1,770 migrants crossing the fence in the past two years. As time passes, the silence and lack of accountability persist, leaving families of the dead and missing waiting for truth, justice, and remembrance.