Spanish Prime Minister rejects suggestions that Morocco was behind Ceuta border crisis

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has dismissed claims that Moroccan authorities played a role in orchestrating the tragic mass migration of migrants from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. The prime minister assured lawmakers that no evidence has been presented to indicate that Morocco either planned or carried out the incident. This came as protests erupted across Spain following the deadly crossing, with citizens demanding solutions and even calling for Sánchez’s resignation.

In late July, an estimated 72,000 migrants attempted to enter Ceuta, a Spanish territory in North Africa with a population of just 84,000. While most were repatriated or returned to Morocco, around 5,000 individuals, including 1,200 children, remain stranded in the city weeks after the incident. Ceuta’s local government disputes this number, citing a higher figure.

Sánchez reported that 141 individuals lost their lives during the attempt to reach the city, though the exact source of this figure remains unclear, neither revealed by his office nor Spain’s interior ministry.

Speculation as to the cause of the mass crossing has intensified, with Spanish media suggesting that an online campaign on social media may have been a significant factor. However, Spanish officials deny that a police report cited Moroccan security forces as permissive in the incident. Despite this, the underlying reasons for the mass migration remain a subject of major uncertainty.