Spain has actively requested its fellow European governments to refrain from publicly criticizing Morocco concerning its role in the recent Ceuta migration crisis. This appeal, confirmed by three separate sources, was made during an online gathering of Interior Ministers on Tuesday.

The unusual request from Madrid aimed to silence any negative discourse directed at Rabat, even as many ministers raised questions about how approximately 72,000 individuals managed to enter the Spanish enclave in North Africa within such a condensed timeframe.

Spain’s stance underscores the European Union’s broader strategy to maintain a strong relationship with Morocco, a nation considered indispensable for managing future migratory flows into Europe. Rabat has also consistently served as a crucial EU partner in counter-terrorism efforts and intelligence sharing.

When pressed on accountability for the crisis during a press conference on Tuesday, Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska asserted, “There is not necessarily someone to blame.” Apart from a subtle hint from the Defense Minister, Spain has largely avoided direct public criticism of Rabat.

A Western government official suggested that Morocco had, at least implicitly, sanctioned the influx towards Ceuta. This incident, they indicated, was likely intended as a political message to Madrid.

The situation was further complicated by the proliferation of false claims on social media. These allegations falsely suggested that a Spanish Supreme Court ruling had prohibited authorities from carrying out

By Pierre Tchuente — Security and Policy Analyst