Ouahbi: Morocco considers suspending its extradition agreement with Spain

Morocco is considering suspending its extradition agreement with Spain, Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi told EFE, accusing Spanish authorities of failing to properly carry out some handovers of people wanted by Moroccan courts.

Ouahbi said the issue is now being discussed within Morocco’s Justice Ministry, warning that Rabat may suspend the agreement if Spain does not follow the procedures governing extraditions and repatriations.

The minister said Moroccan authorities have faced cases in which Spain detains a person wanted by Morocco, verifies their identity and sets a date for their transfer, only for Moroccan security officers to arrive and find that the person is no longer available. “We are told that the person was at large,” Ouahbi said, describing such cases as “incomprehensible.”

He did not identify the individuals involved or give details about how many extraditions had failed in this way.

Ouahbi said Morocco expects Spain to treat extradition requests seriously, particularly when Moroccan officials are sent to receive people whose transfer has already been approved.

“We cannot send our agents to receive people whose delivery is requested and then not receive them,” he said.

He also said Morocco follows the same procedures when Spain requests the handover of people from Morocco, adding that Moroccan authorities transfer all individuals whose extradition is requested by Spanish authorities.

Ouahbi also pointed to delays in Spain’s repatriation of unaccompanied Moroccan minors who enter the country irregularly.

He said Morocco is not prepared to accept violations of extradition or repatriation procedures, warning that the agreements could be suspended if Spain does not respect them.

“If Spain does not want to respect the surrender procedures or the repatriation procedures, we can suspend these agreements,” Ouahbi said.

Ouahbi criticized Spain’s migration policy, saying it creates mixed signals for migrants whom Morocco tries to stop from leaving.

He said migrants sometimes ask Moroccan authorities why they are being prevented from crossing when Spain later accepts and regularizes some arrivals.

He called for Morocco and Spain to adopt a coordinated approach to migration, stating that the two countries cannot pursue contradictory policies across the same border.

Ouahbi renewed his call for Spain to return Moroccan minors who remain in Ceuta and elsewhere in the country, saying Morocco wants “all our children back.”