Relocation of the Jesuit Community from Nador to El Aaiún: Reasons and New Directions

With the appointment of a new vice-superior and the relocation of the community from Nador to El Aaiún, Father Pep Buades SJ explains the reasons behind this change and the new situation.

Blessed Luc Dochier, a Trappist martyr and physician of Tibhirine, has become a patron saint of this Jesuit group. The deep vocation of the Society of Jesus on the African side of the Spanish Southern Border is closely linked to the care of the lives and health of migrants in transit. For over ten years, Nador served as the base for the Jesuit community. As the entire Moroccan Mediterranean coast became a major departure point for migrants heading towards Andalusia, many tried to enter Melilla from Nador. During years of high migration, Syrian and Arab migrants stayed in the city, while sub-Saharan Africans took refuge in the mountains. The Jesuits contributed to founding the Diocesan Delegation for Migration in the eastern region of the Tangier Archdiocese, collaborated in the Baraka vocational training center, and worked with other religious and lay communities. The support from organizations like Entreculturas-Alboan, the Mission Secretariat, Manos Unidas, and Caritas expanded the efforts, also solidifying partnerships with Comillas IUEM and Loyola University. The presence in Nador had connections with offices in Melilla (Jesuit Migrant Service, SJM) and Almería (San José María Rubio community), symbolizing the link between external and invisible borders.

The resurgence of the "Canary route" or "Atlantic route" in 2020 shifted the focus. The Diocesan Delegation for Migration deployed a team to El Aaiún, which took charge of the Sahara Apostolic Prefecture and helped establish Caritas there. At the same time, ECCA Social increased its involvement in migration efforts in the Canary Islands, Senegal, and Mauritania. By 2022, the migration landscape had changed: crossing the Beni Enzar border (Nador-Melilla) became highly selective, inaccessible to Maghrebis and other Arabs, while the Melilla fence grew nearly impenetrable. Moroccan security forces intensified efforts to keep sub-Saharan migrants away from the area. As a result, SJM closed its office in Melilla, where very few migrants now enter, mostly Moroccans, while strengthening its presence in the internal border region of Almería.

These developments led the Jesuit community to relocate to El Aaiún, as it remains a critical point on the migration route with enough resources to continue providing support and accompaniment. The prominence of the "Atlantic route" and proximity to the Canary Islands also made it advisable to connect with the San Ignacio community in Las Palmas, transitioning to the Southwestern Platform. The Jesuits continue to support the ecclesial mission of accompanying, serving, and defending migrants on both sides of the border. Though there was consideration of maintaining a community presence in Nador, the 1,600 km distance between the two cities and the limited number of Jesuits made it impossible to sustain a viable community life. Closing a vibrant and fruitful presence after more than a decade is painful for those involved in such a meaningful mission and for the local Church. However, it is crucial to maintain relationships, offer support from a distance, and make Jesuit resources available to the communities and institutions in Nador.

At the same time, it is now time to establish the community in El Aaiún, working across the two regions of the Sahara Apostolic Prefecture, strengthening ties with the Las Palmas community, ECCA Social, and the core of the Canary Islands network. It is a time to move forward, from El Aaiún.