Morocco denies facilitating migrant surge into Ceuta

Morocco rejects Spanish accusations over Ceuta migration surge

Morocco has firmly denied accusations that it deliberately enabled a mass migration event into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. In a statement released Monday, Moroccan authorities attributed the crisis to a recent Spanish court ruling that weakened immediate deportation measures for migrants arriving by sea.

A senior Moroccan official emphasized that the July 8 judicial decision inadvertently created an opportunity for smuggling networks to exploit, spreading claims that migrants would receive protection upon reaching Spanish soil. “While Europe demands we stop crossings, it simultaneously rolls out the welcome mat once they occur,” the official stated.

Ceuta’s regional president, Juan Jesús Vivas, had previously accused Morocco of actively enabling the influx. Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen cautioned against using irregular migration as a political bargaining tool against EU member states.

Morocco maintains robust border security despite accusations

Rabat strongly denied allegations of reduced controls or security measures along its northern coast prior to last Thursday’s mass crossings. Authorities affirmed that nearly 24,000 security personnel remain deployed to prevent illegal migration along the coastline.

According to official figures, Moroccan forces intercepted 79,000 attempted border crossings in 2024 and another 74,000 in the first months of 2026. Cooperation with Spain on migration control had been described as exemplary until the court ruling altered the legal framework, officials noted.

Morocco has called on Madrid to reinstate effective deterrence mechanisms while rejecting any role in a purely security-driven migration policy. “We will never be complicit in an approach that treats migration solely as a security issue,” the statement concluded.