Morocco warned Spain that a recent Spanish court ruling that migrants arriving by sea would not face immediate removal was going to create “a problem,” a senior Moroccan official said. The warning preceded an influx of at least 50,000 people, mostly Moroccans, who entered the Spanish exclave of Ceuta, on foot or by swimming from the nearby city of Fnideq, which quickly overwhelmed the Spanish exclave in North Africa, before leading to thousands of returns to Morocco.
Origins of the Ceuta Migration Crisis
The diplomatic friction stems from Spain’s Supreme Court ruled on July 8 that migrants arriving by sea should not be returned as quickly as others and Madrid has blamed criminal gangs for spreading misinformation about the ruling. A senior Moroccan official stated that Rabat engaged Spanish counterparts on July 22 and 23 as networks began talking about this.
“We discussed this ruling and its impact,” the Moroccan official said. “We explained that this ruling was going to create a problem. And it did create a problem.”
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Managing migration costs the kingdom amounted to around 500 million euros per year, according to official statements from Rabat.
Madrid Rejects Advance Warning Claims
Spanish government spokeswoman Elma Saiz rejected the claim. Speaking to reporters in Madrid, Saiz rejected the claim that Spanish authorities received prior alerts.
“At no point was there any evidence, any report that alerted us to the magnitude of this unprecedented event,” she told reporters in Madrid.
Despite the disagreement over advance warnings, Saiz acknowledged Morocco’s cooperation, stating that Spain’s “exceptional response in such a short period of time” to the crisis would not have been possible without Morocco’s cooperation.
Operational Realities at the Border
Addressing criticism regarding the border breach, the senior Moroccan official argued that deploying additional physical force would have been ineffective against the large crowds moving on foot and swimming from the nearby city of Fnideq.
“It’s simplistic to say that Morocco should just have used force to stop them,” the official said. “That is to completely misunderstand this phenomenon.”
The official noted that Moroccan law enforcement forces could no longer confront the migrants because the numbers were very large, and because the pull effect was very strong. While emphasizing that “It is not Morocco’s sole responsibility” to manage migration, the official confirmed that Rabat and Madrid had acted “as reliable partners” and continued to work “in perfect coordination” on migration issues.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What caused the migrant influx into Ceuta?
At least 50,000 people, mostly Moroccans, entered the Spanish exclave on foot or by swimming from the nearby city of Fnideq after criminal gangs spread misinformation about a Spanish Supreme Court ruling.
When did Spanish and Moroccan officials discuss the ruling?
According to a senior Moroccan official, discussions took place around July 22–23 when the networks began talking about this.
How much does Morocco spend on migration management?
The cost of migration management for the kingdom amounted to around 500 million euros per year.
Future Outlook on Bilateral Cooperation
The Moroccan official maintained that “Today, it is up to Spain to find answers to the challenges posed by this ruling.” Meanwhile, Rabat has committed to maintaining its preventive measures and accepting the return of individuals who successfully cross the border.
“Morocco’s commitment remains the same,” the official said. “It accepts the return of those who manage to cross. It puts in place preventive measures to stop as many departures as possible, and it will continue” to do so.
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