The Moroccan government had formally notified Spain of the potential migration risks stemming from a recent Spanish court ruling before the crisis in Ceuta unfolded, a senior Moroccan official revealed. The official dismissed any notion of security lapses on Morocco’s part, emphasizing the proactive nature of Rabat’s communication with Madrid.
Over the past few days, nearly 60,000 individuals, predominantly Moroccan nationals, either entered or attempted to enter the Spanish enclave of Ceuta on foot or by swimming from the nearby town of Fnideq. This unprecedented surge overwhelmed Ceuta’s capacity, leading to thousands of returns to Morocco.
According to the high-ranking official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to local and international media, Moroccan authorities had explicitly warned Spanish counterparts about the risks posed by a recent Supreme Court ruling. The ruling stipulated that immediate repatriation would not apply to migrants arriving by sea, a decision that Morocco feared would trigger a mass movement toward Ceuta.
«We made it clear that this judgment would create a problem. And it has,» the official stated.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez had attributed the unfolding migration crisis in Ceuta to misleading rumors spread by human trafficking networks, suggesting a misinterpretation of the court’s decision. However, the Moroccan official countered that discussions between the two countries had begun around July 22-23, as smuggling networks started circulating information about the ruling.
He firmly rejected accusations of a failure in Morocco’s security apparatus, arguing that a forceful approach was neither feasible nor sustainable given the sheer scale of the influx. «It’s simplistic to claim Morocco should have merely used force to stop them. That ignores the reality of the situation,» he said. «This is not Morocco’s burden alone to bear.»
The official highlighted the kingdom’s substantial financial investment in migration management, estimating annual costs at approximately 500 million euros. While acknowledging the strong bilateral cooperation between Rabat and Madrid, he stressed that Spain must now address the challenges posed by the court’s decision.
«Today, Spain must find solutions to the challenges created by this ruling,» he concluded.