Morocco says it aims to stop new migrant surge to Spain's Ceuta on August 15th

Moroccan officials have unveiled plans to prevent a new wave of migrants from reaching Spain's Ceuta, following the detection of disinformation online. Reports circulating on social media claimed that the border crossing between Morocco's town of Fnideq and Ceuta would be open on August 15th, a Spanish public holiday. This comes after over 72,000 individuals, primarily Moroccans, illegally crossed into Ceuta in late July, a record number although most have been returned to Morocco.

Moroccan Interior Ministry spokesman Rachid El Khalfi stated that all measures were in place to prevent illegal crossings and intercept anyone attempting to do so. The ministry noted it had identified online publications and anonymous messages inciting group illegal crossings towards Ceuta. Legal action would be taken against those spreading such calls, El Khalfi added.

Some 2,000 people, including around 1,000 unaccompanied minors, remain in Ceuta following the earlier influx, with Moroccan authorities urging Spain to expedite the return of the minors. Moroccan authorities recovered 11 bodies during the crisis, while Spain reported at least 80 deaths. However, the Moroccan Association for Human Rights, a non-governmental organization, estimated the death toll to be at least 141.