Four young men from Luxembourg had been holidaying in Tangier since Monday when they decided to travel to Fnideq on Thursday for a day of jet skiing. Fnideq sits right on the Moroccan side of the border with Ceuta, a Spanish territory. Upon arrival, the group had no idea what was unfolding around them but immediately noticed an unusual military presence, with boats patrolling the coast. James Huynh and Chadi Ben Hsain recall how they soon realised something was amiss.
They told RTL that, while travelling, they saw crowds of people, mostly young men, running towards the coastline, which is when they realised that something was wrong. Upon checking the news, they learnt that these people were risking everything to leave Morocco and reach Ceuta. The Luxembourgish tourists explain that they even saw children who had been abandoned by their parents, and restaurant staff who had left their jobs mid-shift, all in an effort to cross the border.
According to the Luxembourgers, the entire city came to a standstill. Shops and restaurants were deserted as waves of people abandoned everything to try and swim across to Ceuta. The journey is perilous: nearly four hours in open water, made even more dangerous by metal fences and barriers installed in the sea to prevent crossings. Chadi Ben Hsain acknowledges that seeing all of that really made them reflect on what they have, and what they often take for granted. He added that "ultimately, these young people are simply seeking what we enjoy in Luxembourg: access to good education and healthcare – things that are far from guaranteed here."
Throughout the night, the Luxembourgish group heard constant sirens and saw ambulances and police vehicles rushing through the streets. By Friday morning, they decided to cut their trip short for their own safety. James Huynh explains that on the drive back to Tangier, they still saw people desperately making their way to the coast, but also noticed many others giving up and heading home.
The four young men have since returned to Tangier and plan to fly back to Luxembourg on Tuesday, describing the atmosphere in Fnideq as one of total chaos.
