The Ministry of Interior of Morocco has rejected any responsibility for the mass influx of migrants to Ceuta through the Tarajal breakwater last week. On Sunday evening, the department attributed the crisis to a combination of factors: the activities of migrant smuggling networks and disinformation on social media following the Supreme Court’s decision in early July.
In a statement released by the Moroccan agency MAP, Rabat described itself as a “reliable” partner. The document emphasizes that the influx of migrants was not the result of “spontaneous circumstances or random factors”, but rather a consequence of “malicious exploitation of the digital space and the activities of migrant smuggling networks”, along with “the spread of misleading information and misinterpretations related to recent decisions made by Spanish judicial bodies”.
Statements by the Spanish Foreign Minister
This information was also conveyed on Monday by Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares during an interview on RTVE. “There was unusual activity on social networks that amplified and distorted the Supreme Court’s decision,” Albares stated. He referred to Morocco as a “reliable” partner and praised its “cooperation” in facilitating the return of these individuals to Moroccan territory.
According to Albares, “the vast majority of people who crossed the border” have already returned. He noted that Morocco “from the first moment” offered “its cooperation to try to prevent this flow of people and, above all, to ensure their immediate return, as is happening now”. The Foreign Minister also assured that “all those who illegally crossed the border” will be returned to Morocco and accused other European governments, as well as the PP and Vox parties, of “disloyalty”.
Data on Migrants and Morocco’s Commitments
Additionally, the Moroccan government reported that 11 people died in its waters, most of whom drowned while attempting to reach Spanish territory. It estimated the number of individuals involved in the crossing at 40,000, a figure lower than that cited by Spanish authorities. The report also noted that 1,135 people were denied entry to Melilla.
Morocco reaffirmed its commitment to combating illegal migration and called for a fairer distribution of responsibility for managing migration flows. The statement stressed that the country “will remain, as expected by its partners, a reliable and responsible partner, dedicated to strengthening international cooperation and coordination in the fight against irregular migration and migrant smuggling”.
Source: La Vanguardia
