The end of this July brought the most bizarre episode of the "migrant crisis" that Europe has ever witnessed.
In a few days, over 60.000 Moroccans found their way to the Spanish exclave of Ceuta on African soil – by swimming or jumping over a fence.
During Friday and Saturday, practically everyone went back, peacefully.
"I don't even know what we came for"
Garbage, tires and cheap slippers were left behind. In Ceuta, a town with as many inhabitants as there were sudden arrivals, the locals were in makeshift apartments in fear. There were several robberies.
At least 67 people died trying to get there.
There was a lot of political noise and the new 500 meter long Spanish floating barrier was left behind. In the future, it should make it more difficult for migrant swimmers to come to Ceuta.
"To be honest, I don't even know what we came for. I'm going back now," said one of the migrants to the cameras. "What we did is not good for us, and it's not fun. People got hurt."
Others spoke similarly, adding that they found closed shops in Ceuta. There was no food, no water, no place to sleep.
First theory: Morocco is to blame
Many said they were encouraged to cross the border by Moroccan law enforcement.
New York Times elaborates several theories. The first one is that Morocco is exerting political pressure on Spain, perhaps because of the earlier agreement between Spain and Algeria that concerns gas in particular.
"For me it plays a pretty central role. It's impossible for almost 50.000 people to cross the border between Morocco and Spain in one day without Morocco having anything to do with it," says Lorenzo Gabrieli of the University of Barcelona.
Another theory: Sanchez is guilty
Another theory, advocated by right-wing parties in Spain and Europe, says that the migrants were attracted by the decision of Pedro Sánchez's government to allow early legalization of the status of about half a million people who came to Spain illegally.
"By legalizing hundreds of thousands of illegal migrants, Spain's Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has opened the door to Europe," said French far-right leader Jordan Bardella.
Sanchez rejects that claim and brings a third theory into play - it's all the fault of people smugglers.
Third theory: Smugglers are to blame
According to Sánchez's interpretation, the smugglers took advantage of a recent decision by the Supreme Court of Spain, which ruled that anyone who reaches the territory by sea must go through the proper asylum process.
Those who are caught by the Spanish forces of order to have crossed the land can be immediately sent back to where they came from.
"It was all triggered by messages circulating on social media about the Spanish court's decision, which created an attraction factor," he reports. New York Times the words of Abdullah Abakil, a Moroccan left-wing politician.
The Moroccans' invasion of Ceuta gave free points to the European radical right. The European Union will urgently discuss the developments on Tuesday.
A spokesman for the border agency Frontex said: "It is too early to really say why the rush happened and how it happened so quickly."
Sources: Vreme, DW, NYT
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