Morocco/Spain: Fate of migrants still missing two years after deadly border incident at Melilla border revealed

Moroccan and Spanish authorities must step up their efforts to clarify the fate of at least 70 men, mostly from Sudan and Chad, who are still missing, two years after Moroccan and Spanish security forces carried out a deadly crackdown on sub-Saharan Africans attempting to cross the border from Morocco to the Spanish enclave of Melilla, Amnesty International said today.

On June 24, 2022, at least 37 black people from sub-Saharan Africa and hundreds more were injured in the incident. Moroccan authorities did not announce that they had opened an investigation into the fatal incidents until a year and a half later, in early 2024, and did not release any further findings, while Spanish authorities continue to deny any formal responsibility.

“It is outrageous that two years after the deadly crackdown at the Melilla border, the families of more than 70 missing people are still fighting for answers about what happened to their loved ones at the hands of Moroccan and Spanish security forces. So far, the authorities in Morocco and Spain have failed to ensure a transparent and effective investigation to give the victims’ families access to truth, justice and redress. This tragedy cannot be allowed to be swept under the carpet any longer,” said Amjad Yamin, Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International.

In June 2023, the UN Committee Against Torture noted that there had been no effective investigation into the fatal events of June 2022 and called on Spain to immediately investigate the responsibility of the security forces for the events and to take steps to ensure that such incidents do not recur.

So far, the Spanish authorities have denied any wrongdoing and are continuing their unlawful collective expulsions to push people back at their borders.

So far, the authorities in Morocco and Spain have failed to ensure a transparent and effective investigation to give the victims’ families access to truth, justice and reparation. They must no longer be allowed to sweep this tragedy under the carpet.

Amjad Yamin, Amnesty International

In recent weeks, the Nador branch of the Moroccan Association for Human Rights (AMDH) reported that authorities had carried out secret burials of some of those killed. The organization said it had documented several bodies being recovered from the Al-Hasani hospital morgue and taken to the Sidi Salem cemetery in the presence of security forces. At least 13 bodies were buried between June 6 and 12.

The bodies were buried in graves without names; they only bore the burial date, the cemetery number and the gender of the person.

The organization’s president, Omar Naji, told Amnesty International that he visited the Sidi Salem cemetery to conduct research and gather information.

“We believe this started in early June. According to our information, eight of those who died in the operation by Spanish and Moroccan border guards in 2022 were buried on June 6, and five more men were buried on June 12,” he said.

“Reports that Moroccan authorities are conducting secret burials of the unidentified remains of migrants and refugees killed in the deadly events of June 2022 are deeply disturbing. Instead of continuing to hide the truth, authorities must ensure full transparency and disclose the fate and whereabouts of all missing people, including the causes of death of those buried. They must urgently grant families access to identify the bodies and commission independent experts to conduct forensic analysis,” said Amjad Yamin.

In June 2024, Amnesty International spoke to the families of three missing Sundanese migrants and refugees who lost contact with their relatives in early to mid-June 2022At least one of them is dead. The other two are still missing.