[dropcap]T[/dropcap]HE African Union (AU) on Sunday called for an immediate investigation into the circumstances that led to the deaths of at least 23 migrants during a mass attempt to cross from Morocco into Spain’s enclave of Melilla.
AU Commission chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat said he was in deep shock and concern at the ‘violent and degrading treatment’ of African migrants attempting to cross an international border.
Mahamat also reminded all countries of their obligations under international law to ‘treat all migrants with dignity and to prioritise their safety and human rights, while refraining from the use of excessive force.’
More than 130 people managed to cross the border after more than 2,000 people had tried to climb the iron fence that separates Morocco and Melilla on Friday.
Dozens of people were also injured in the incident while authorities said 176 Moroccan security officers and 49 Spanish border guards sustained injuries.
The incident is believed to be the deadliest in recent memory along the section of the European Union’s only land border with Africa.
Several human rights groups, including the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR), have also weighed in expressing their concern over what happened at the Morocco-Melilla border.
