Morocco Denies Role in Mass Ceuta Crossing, Accuses Spain of Political Scapegoating

Morocco has rejected accusations that its authorities were involved in the mass crossing of more than 70,000 migrants into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in July, saying there is no evidence linking Rabat to the incident.

Morocco’s Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that it would not allow itself to be drawn into Spain’s domestic political disputes or be made a scapegoat for the crisis.

The mass crossing triggered intense political debate in Spain, with opposition parties questioning the government of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez over its handling of the incident and its relationship with Morocco.

“Why continue to level accusations against Morocco when no evidence, facts, or reports establish any involvement on the part of Moroccan authorities?” the Moroccan Foreign Ministry said in a statement. 

Morocco Rejects Allegations

The Moroccan government also questioned why migrants who entered Ceuta had not all been returned, despite what Rabat described as its commitment to readmit them.

Morocco also called for the return of unaccompanied minors, saying it had urgently requested that they be reunited with their families.

The ministry said Morocco “refuses to be used as a pre-election political pawn” and rejected attempts to make the country responsible for Spain’s political disputes.

Spain is expected to hold its next national election by mid-2027, adding to the political sensitivity surrounding the migration crisis. 

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Thousands Remain in Ceuta

More than 70,000 people crossed from Morocco into Ceuta during the July crisis. Most were subsequently returned to Morocco, but thousands have remained in the enclave, including unaccompanied minors.

The situation has fuelled protests by residents concerned about the pressure placed on local services and the Spanish government’s handling of the humanitarian crisis.

Non-governmental organisations have also reported more than 100 deaths linked to the mass crossing.

Spanish Intelligence Had Issued Warnings

The latest controversy comes after Spain released previously classified intelligence documents showing that Spanish intelligence and security agencies had warned Madrid and their Moroccan counterparts about the possibility of a mass crossing.

The documents indicated that Spanish authorities had received information about plans circulating on social media encouraging people to enter Ceuta by swimming or crossing the border fence. 

However, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has maintained that there is no solid evidence showing that Morocco planned or orchestrated the mass crossing.

Sánchez previously said Moroccan security forces allowed crossings to take place during a key period when arrivals peaked, but Spanish authorities had not established whether this resulted from deliberate inaction or an inability to control the situation. 

A Spanish Civil Guard assessment also reportedly considered it unlikely that Morocco had deliberately encouraged the mass entry, pointing to factors including the scale of the influx and the actions taken by Moroccan security forces before the crisis. 

Morocco-Spain Relations Under Pressure

Morocco highlighted the close security, migration and economic cooperation it has developed with Spain since Sánchez backed Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara in 2022.

The latest dispute could put further pressure on those relations, particularly as questions continue over what caused the unprecedented migration surge and how authorities on both sides responded.

Morocco does not recognise Spanish sovereignty over Ceuta and Melilla, Spain’s two North African enclaves.

For now, Rabat insists that no evidence has established that Moroccan authorities organised or facilitated the mass crossing, while Spanish authorities continue to face questions over their preparedness and response to the crisis.