The United Nations has called for an independent investigation into the circumstances of the killing of at least 23 migrants while trying to enter the Spanish city of Melilla, located on Moroccan territory. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric denounced the resort of Morocco and Spain to “excessive use of force” against migrants in Melilla, and considered it ”unacceptable”.
“This is unacceptable” and “this tragedy must be investigated”, he added, noting that the United Nations had noted the excessive use of force “on both sides of the border”.
“We were shocked by the scenes of violence that took place at the border between Morocco and Spain in North Africa this weekend, which resulted in the deaths of dozens of asylum seekers and migrants,” he said.
“People who migrate have rights that must be respected, and we often see them violated,” Dujarric said.
The Security Council discusses the killing of 23 migrants at the borders of Morocco and Spain
Three African countries called on the Security Council to hold a session to discuss the “fatal violence” against African migrants as they tried to enter Spain through Morocco.
Kimani said: “Three African countries in the Security Council (Kenya, Gabon and Ghana) called for a session on the deadly violence that African migrants were subjected to as they sought to enter Spain through Morocco.”
He added, “Migrants are immigrants, whether they are from Africa or Europe… and they do not deserve to be treated brutally in this way.”
And he warned that “racism threatens international peace and security… and it continues to practice murder across the Mediterranean.”
“It is time for the Security Council to deal with the threat posed by racism everywhere,” he said.
The Spanish government said, in a statement, that more than 2,000 migrants tried to storm the border fence separating the Spanish city of Melilla and the State of Morocco.
Initial reports indicated that 5 people were killed, but Rabat later confirmed that the number had risen to 23, and dozens of migrants and security personnel had been injured, according to what the Moroccan (government) Channel One website reported, citing the kingdom’s authorities.
Melilla and Ceuta, on the northern coast of Africa, are the two most popular transit points for irregular African migrants to Europe.
