Experts say Morocco’s migration strategy proved effective in 2025

Experts say Morocco’s approach to tackling irregular migration showed clear effectiveness in 2025, as authorities reported thousands of attempts thwarted and hundreds of trafficking networks dismantled.

Data from the Interior Ministry show Moroccan authorities prevented 73,640 irregular migration attempts in 2025, highlighting what officials described as strengthened border and coastal surveillance systems. More than 300 migrant smuggling networks were also dismantled throughout the same period.

The ministry said Morocco continued to face mounting migration pressure amid regional instability and persistent activity by trafficking networks.

Abdelrafii Telidi, a migration specialist at the University of Lleida in northeastern Spain, said irregular migration flows between North Africa and Europe intensified after European countries imposed visa requirements, creating opportunities for organized smuggling groups.

“These networks constantly adapt,” Telidi told Hespress AR. “When border controls tighten in one area, whether in Morocco, Algeria or elsewhere, they shift routes geographically, moving north to south or west to east.”

He added that irregular migration cannot be fully eliminated, noting that flows tend to fluctuate depending on security conditions and weather patterns. Telidi pointed to a recent increase in arrivals from Algeria to Spain, particularly among minors, while attempts from Morocco have declined compared with previous years.

Despite intensified enforcement, he said, “this phenomenon will persist. It may rise and fall, but it will not disappear as long as the underlying causes remain.”

Hassan Jefali, another migration expert, described Morocco as a “strategic partner” for the European Union, particularly in its bilateral ties with Spain. He said Morocco’s return to the African Union helped elevate migration issues between Africa and Europe as a key priority.

Jefali noted that Morocco’s National Strategy on Immigration and Asylum, launched in 2013, aims to integrate migrants legally while balancing humanitarian considerations with security concerns.

He said authorities distinguish between migrants seeking legal integration and those attempting to use Morocco as a transit route to Europe, prompting intensified monitoring efforts.

Morocco also operates a voluntary return program in coordination with the International Organization for Migration, allowing migrants to return home with assistance. Those involved in criminal activity or considered a threat to national security are subject to legal deportation procedures, Jefali said.

He added that Morocco’s approach is based on a clear distinction between migrants who contribute positively to society and those who violate the law, describing this balance as central to the country’s migration policy.