Morocco Blames Social Media, Smugglers for Migrant Surge to Ceuta

Morocco's Interior Ministry has attributed the recent mass influx of thousands of individuals from Morocco to the Spanish enclave of Ceuta to a combination of factors. In a statement released Sunday, the ministry pointed to misinformation spread on social media, the activities of human smuggling networks, and a misinterpretation of a Spanish high court ruling as primary drivers.

The ruling, according to the ministry's interpretation, stated that immediate rejections could not be applied to migrants arriving by sea, a detail that may have been misunderstood or exploited. Morocco estimates that approximately 40,000 people attempted to cross the border into Ceuta, a significantly higher figure than the preliminary assessment of 60,000 by Spanish authorities earlier in the week.

The ministry's statement did not elaborate on the specific social media content or the exact nature of the misinterpretation of the court's decision. The focus remains on attributing the surge in migration attempts to these external and informational factors, rather than internal issues within Morocco.