The images are hauntingly familiar: thousands of people wading into the sea, swimming around breakwaters, clinging to inflatable tubes and scrambling onto rocky shores in the hope of reaching Europe.
In late July, the Spanish enclave of Ceuta witnessed one of its largest mass migration events in recent years, as tens of thousands of migrants crossed from neighbouring Morocco, overwhelming local authorities and reigniting Europe's debate over migration, border security and humanitarian responsibility.
But why are so many Moroccans, and migrants from elsewhere in Africa, prepared to risk drowning for a city that is not even mainland Europe? The answer lies in geography, economics, politics and hope.
Ceuta is a small Spanish autonomous city on the northern coast of Africa. Although geographically located on the African continent, it is part of Spain and therefore forms one of the European Union's external borders.
Together with Melilla, it represents the EU's only land border with Africa, making it a uniquely strategic gateway for migrants hoping to enter Europe.
Despite its dangers, Ceuta remains one of the shortest migration routes into Europe. From the Moroccan coastal town of Fnideq, migrants need to swim only around five kilometres to reach Spanish territory. Others attempt an even shorter crossing from nearby Belyounech.
Compared with longer Mediterranean crossings from Libya or Tunisia, which can involve days at sea aboard overcrowded boats, the Ceuta route appears, at least on paper, more achievable. This perception often outweighs the risks.
Many migrants attempt the crossing using inflatable rings, makeshift flotation devices or simply by swimming, despite strong currents and rough waters. Dozens have died during recent attempts, highlighting just how perilous the route remains.
Nevertheless, reaching Ceuta does not automatically mean entry into mainland Spain. Migrants who arrive irregularly cannot simply board a ferry to mainland Spain.
Instead, they are processed by Spanish authorities, with many eventually returned to Morocco under bilateral agreements between the two countries.
The decision is driven by desperation rather than opportunity for most migrants crossing into Europe via the Ceuta route.
Morocco has struggled with persistent youth unemployment, widening income inequality and a rising cost of living. Although it is considered one of North Africa's more stable economies, many young Moroccans say stable employment, affordable housing and economic mobility remain out of reach.
Crossing into Spain is viewed as the first step in a longer journey towards a better future.
Others attempting the journey are not Moroccan citizens at all. Many come from conflict-affected or economically distressed countries in sub-Saharan Africa, travelling through Morocco in the hope of eventually reaching Europe.
The latest surge also appears to have been fuelled by misinformation circulating on social media and among smuggling networks. Many migrants believed a recent Spanish court ruling meant those arriving by sea could no longer be immediately returned to Morocco, while others thought border controls had been relaxed or that reaching Ceuta would provide easy access to mainland Spain.
Those claims proved false for many of the migrants. Instead, thousands later found themselves stranded inside Ceuta with limited food, shelter and no straightforward path into continental Europe.
The recent crisis demonstrated this reality. A report by Reuters notes that although an estimated 50,000 to 60,000 migrants entered Ceuta within just a few days, the enclave quickly became overwhelmed, with reception centres operating beyond capacity and essential services stretched thin.
Rather than serving as a gateway to mainland Spain, Ceuta became a bottleneck. Spanish authorities reiterated that irregular migrants arriving in the enclave cannot freely travel to the Spanish mainland because Ceuta lies outside the Schengen free movement area.
Faced with overcrowded conditions, limited access to food and shelter, and no clear route onwards, the vast majority of migrants voluntarily returned to Morocco within 48 hours.
Spain's Interior Ministry said more than 48,000 people had crossed back, while others were repatriated under existing bilateral agreements with Morocco.
Hunger, exhaustion and growing hostility in parts of the city further prompted many to abandon their attempt and return home.
Migration across Ceuta has long been intertwined with diplomatic relations between Spain and Morocco. Whenever tensions arise between Rabat and Madrid, questions often emerge over whether Moroccan border enforcement has changed.
Following the latest crossings, analysts again pointed to speculation that political disagreements may have contributed to reduced border controls, although no definitive evidence has confirmed this.
Spanish authorities have also blamed criminal smuggling networks for encouraging migrants with false promises about legal protections and entry into Europe.
The events in Ceuta underscore a broader reality: migration is rarely driven by a single factor. Economic hardship, political instability, misinformation, organised smuggling networks and the enduring belief that Europe offers safety and opportunity continue to push thousands towards increasingly dangerous journeys.
For many migrants, Ceuta is not the final destination but the first symbolic step towards a different life. The tragedy is that for many, the journey ends before that dream ever begins. Others find that even after surviving the sea, the promise of Europe remains far beyond the shoreline.