It Was Not Simply Migration” / Spain Accuses Morocco After Mass Arrival of Migrants in Ceuta: Territorial Integrity Was Threatened

The escalation of the migrant crisis in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta has strained relations between Madrid and Rabat. Spanish authorities suspect that Morocco allowed, or failed to take sufficient steps to prevent, tens of thousands of migrants from crossing into Spanish territory.

Approximately 69,500 people who entered Ceuta last weekend have already been returned to Morocco, while around 2,500 others remain in the enclave, according to Spanish authorities and reporting by The Guardian.

The city, which has around 84,000 inhabitants, faced an unprecedented influx that exceeded its capacity and sparked a political debate within the European Union as well. Some member states criticized Spain’s response to the situation.

Ceuta President Juan Jesús Vivas said the recent events could not be defined solely as a migration crisis.

“For the residents here, this was not just a migration crisis, but an attack on Spain’s territorial integrity. Even if it was not directly organized, Morocco at the very least encouraged or allowed it,” he declared.

Vivas also emphasized the tragedy’s grave humanitarian dimensions. According to him, there were 88 victims in the city morgue, while other bodies are believed to still be on the Moroccan side of the border.

Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles called on the Moroccan government to conduct a full investigation into the events.

An initial analysis by the Spanish intelligence services suggests that the influx may not have been planned by the Moroccan authorities. Nevertheless, according to the assessment, border controls were significantly weakened and, in some cases, crossing into Ceuta became easier.

Spanish media report that the wave of migrants may have been prompted by false news that spread rapidly on social media. According to the claim, Spain would no longer return migrants arriving by sea.

Migrants’ accounts describe a dangerous and dramatic crossing to the enclave.

A 28-year-old Moroccan man said he had seen posts on social media claiming that the border had been opened, so he decided to swim toward Spain.

“You may see me smiling, but inside I am devastated. Along the way, we passed dead bodies in the sea. There were so many of us that everyone tried to hold on to one another to survive,” he recounted.

He said Moroccan police officers shouted “Swim, swim” at people as the crowd entered the water.

Among those who remain in Ceuta are many unaccompanied minors. Local authorities say that 862 children without parents or guardians are in the city.

Meanwhile, a Moroccan mother continues to search for her two children, aged 13 and 16. The minors entered the sea to cross the border after their mother had arrived in Ceuta earlier.

The consequences of the crisis have also been felt in relations between European Union countries.

Italy suspended passport-free travel with Spain for one month, while several member states called for stronger measures to protect Europe’s borders.

Spain’s Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares criticized the lack of solidarity from some European partners. He also accused them of spreading disinformation about the situation in Ceuta and the functioning of the Schengen Area.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described Spain’s response as swift and said that the European Union must strengthen border protection in the most sensitive areas.