The Government of Morocco has explained the recent migratory crisis in Ceuta as the result of the action of human trafficking networks, the dissemination of misinformation, and misunderstandings about a ruling from the Supreme Court of Spain regarding "hot returns." This is the first time that Rabat has publicly commented on the massive entry of tens of thousands of Moroccan citizens into the autonomous city between Thursday and Friday through the Tarajal pier, an episode that has left at least 72 deceased, most by drowning.
A spokesperson for the Moroccan Ministry of the Interior, through a statement disseminated by the national press, has emphasized that what happened in Ceuta does not respond "to either spontaneous circumstances or circumstantial factors," but rather to a combination of "the malicious exploitation of digital space and the activity of human trafficking networks," along with "the promotion of misleading information and misinterpretations that accompanied the recent decisions issued by the Spanish judicial authorities."
According to the Ministry, these "misinterpretations," fueled by information poisoning, "reinforced among some of those wishing to migrate the conviction that it was possible to avoid immediate return."
Rabat maintains that its response was impeccable from the beginning of the crisis, applying "a proactive and comprehensive approach, based on early monitoring, increased levels of surveillance and mobilization, and strengthening the preparedness of various security services and territorial authorities."
Thanks to this device, Moroccan authorities claim to have managed to "control the course of events, protect lives, preserve public order, and secure the borders, strictly respecting legal provisions and the principle of proportionality in intervention." In this context, the Interior provides for the first time its own balance of victims, confirming eleven dead, ten of them by drowning and another from injuries sustained after falling "from a rocky area near the city of Ceuta."
The Moroccan government also indicates that it cooperates with Spanish authorities to determine "the actual number of affected persons, their identities and nationalities, in order to complete the necessary legal, administrative, and humanitarian procedures."
In its final reflection on the migration issue, the Ministry of the Interior emphasizes that "the management of the migratory phenomenon" can only be addressed "within the framework of a comprehensive approach based on shared responsibility, genuine solidarity, and the equitable distribution of the burden."
In this line, Rabat reiterates that Morocco "will continue to be, as its partners expect, a reliable and responsible partner, committed to strengthening international cooperation and coordination in the fight against irregular migration and human trafficking."
At the same time, the Maghreb country assures that it "will continue to adopt all necessary measures to protect public order, safeguard border security, and ensure the safety of people and property, within the framework of the rule of law and respect for the national and international obligations of the Kingdom."