Morocco’s Interior Ministry said the recent surge in irregular migration attempts toward the Spanish enclaves of Ceutaand Melilla was driven by a combination of online misinformation, human trafficking networks, and widespread misinterpretations of recent Spanish judicial decisions, rather than spontaneous migration flows.
In a statement issued Sunday, the ministry said the crossings resulted from “multiple interrelated factors,” including the malicious exploitation of digital platforms, the spread of false information, the activities of migrant smuggling networks, and misleading interpretations of legal and administrative developments that created the impression that reaching Europe had become easier and carried few legal consequences.
The ministry said Moroccan authorities had adopted a preventive and coordinated response from the outset, relying on early monitoring, heightened security readiness, reinforced land and maritime border controls, and close coordination among security services and local authorities.
According to the ministry, these measures enabled authorities to contain the situation, protect lives, maintain public order, and secure Morocco’s borders while respecting legal standards and the principle of proportionality.
Around 40,000 attempted to reach Ceuta
The Interior Ministry said official monitoring systems recorded approximately 40,000 people attempting to reach Ceuta, compared with about 1,135 who headed toward Melilla.
It added that all migrants who succeeded in entering Melilla were subsequently returned, emphasizing that these figures were compiled using official surveillance and field-monitoring systems and should be regarded as the authoritative count, rather than higher figures circulating in some media reports and on social media.
Spanish court rulings cited as a contributing factor
The ministry also pointed to recent rulings by Spanish courts limiting the use of summary returns for certain migrants intercepted at sea.
According to Moroccan authorities, those decisions were widely misinterpreted online, creating the false perception that migrants who reached Spanish territory by swimming could avoid immediate return.
Officials said this misunderstanding encouraged many would-be migrants to attempt sea crossings, believing swimming offered a greater chance of remaining in Spain.
Eleven confirmed deaths
The ministry confirmed 11 deaths linked to the recent migration wave.
According to the statement, one person died after falling from a rocky area near Ceuta, while 10 others drownedduring attempts to reach the enclave by sea.
Authorities attributed part of the tragedy to the deceptive appearance of the crossing route, noting that the distance between Morocco and Ceuta is less than 70 meters in some areas, with water depths of just over two meters at certain points.
Those conditions, the ministry said, gave many participants a false sense that the crossing was relatively safe, leading them to underestimate the risks.
Additional fatalities under verification
Regarding reports of additional deaths in Ceuta, Moroccan authorities said they are continuing to verify the information through official cooperation channels with Spain.
The ministry said the process includes confirming the identities, nationalities, and exact number of those involved before completing the necessary legal, administrative, and humanitarian procedures.
Voluntary returns and judicial investigations
The ministry added that, in coordination with Spanish authorities, border crossings were opened to facilitate the voluntary return of migrants who wished to go back to Morocco, contributing to the gradual restoration of normal conditions along the border.
It also confirmed that Morocco’s Public Prosecutor’s Office has opened judicial investigations into the incidents to establish the full circumstances, identify those responsible, and pursue any criminal offenses related to the events.
Concluding its statement, the Interior Ministry reiterated that irregular migration can only be addressed through shared international responsibility, solidarity, and burden-sharing.
It said Morocco remains committed to working with international partners to combat irregular migration and human trafficking while continuing to protect public order, secure its borders, and uphold its national and international legal obligations.
add your comment
Terms of publication : Not to offend the writer, people, sacred things, or attack religions or the divine self, and refrain from racist incitement and insults.