Morocco breaks silence on Ceuta: Blames disinformation, smugglers, and Spanish Supreme Court

Moroccan authorities have broken their silence on the migrant crisis in Ceuta, attributing the chaos to a combination of disinformation, human smugglers, and a Spanish Supreme Court decision. In a statement released Sunday evening, the Interior Ministry pointed fingers at misinformation circulating on social media and at smugglers who facilitated the crossings.

The ministry also suggested that many migrants were emboldened by a Spanish Supreme Court ruling from July. This ruling stipulated that migrants arriving by sea could not be immediately pushed back across the border, unlike those arriving via land borders.

According to Spanish authorities, approximately 60,000 people had crossed from Morocco into Ceuta before the weekend. Most have since returned. Tragically, Spanish officials reported that 72 individuals lost their lives on the Spanish side of the border during the crossing incidents. Moroccan authorities confirmed 10 deaths on their side.

The statement marks Morocco's first official comment on the significant migrant movements that have strained relations between the two countries.

“

They blame disinformation, smugglers, and a Spanish Supreme Court.