Moroccan families fear for sons missing on irregular migration journey to Spain

More than seven months have passed since the last contact between 11 young men from the city of Souk Sebt Oulad M'Barek and their families in the province of Khouribga. The young men left at the end of December 2025 on an irregular migration journey towards Spain.

Since the evening of December 30, families have been awaiting official information to determine their sons' location and fate. They have filed complaints with the judiciary and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Abroad. The youths reportedly paid between 35,000 and 40,000 Moroccan dirhams each for the trip, with part of the sum transferred via money transfer agencies.

Families state that communication continued for the first few hours of the journey, with the last contact occurring around 8 p.m. on December 30, followed by a sudden loss of connection. Since then, families have not received sufficient official information regarding their sons' whereabouts, whether they reached Spain, or if they encountered circumstances preventing further contact.

Complaints also name an individual allegedly acting as an intermediary, linked to receiving payments from participants. Families have requested a judicial investigation into these details, tracing financial transfers, questioning individuals with information, and determining legal responsibilities.

Families have submitted complaints to the public prosecutor's office at the Court of First Instance in Souk Sebt Oulad M'Barek, demanding an investigation into the journey's circumstances and the fate of the youths. They also sent a letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs on April 21, 2026, urging swift intervention to aid the search, coordinate with Spanish authorities, and provide available information on their status. The situation remains uncertain as families await official answers regarding the eleven young men.