The African Union calls for an investigation after the death of at least 23 migrants

Dozens of migrants died over the weekend after a massive entry attempt into the Spanish enclave of Melilla. The head of the Commission of the African Union (AU), the Chadian Moussa Faki Mahamat, denounced “the violent and degrading treatment of African migrants” and called for an investigation into this tragedy.

“I express my deep emotion and concern at the violent and degrading treatment of African migrants seeking to cross an international border between Morocco and Spain,” Moussa Faki tweeted on Sunday evening.

The deadliest death toll ever recorded

“I call for an immediate investigation into this case and remind all countries of their obligations under international law to treat all migrants with dignity and to put their safety and human rights first, while curbing any excessive use of force,” the AU commissioner added.

At least 23 migrants died and 140 police officers were injured, according to Moroccan authorities, during an attempt to bring some 2,000 migrants into the Spanish enclave of Melilla, in Moroccan territory. This toll is the deadliest ever recorded during the many attempts by sub-Saharan migrants to enter Melilla and the neighboring Spanish enclave of Ceuta, the European Union’s only land borders with the African continent.