Morocco Denies Responsibility for Ceuta Crisis, Blaming Mafias and Disinformation

Morocco’s government blamed criminal networks and online disinformation Monday for the mass attempt to reach Ceuta, rejecting suggestions that the crossings reflected a spontaneous movement or a deliberate challenge to Spain.

Rachid El Khalfi, spokesperson for the Moroccan Interior Ministry, said traffickers exploited a Spanish judicial ruling and misleading social-media claims to create an “illusion of easy access to European territory.” He said the events were not “spontaneous.”

Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares defended Rabat as a “reliable partner.” He said “the vast majority of those who entered have already returned to Morocco” and promised that “every last one of them will return.”

The statements followed several days of official silence after tens of thousands of people attempted to cross from Morocco into the Spanish autonomous city. Morocco said about 40,000 people tried to reach Ceuta, while another 1,135 attempted to reach Melilla.

Rabat says traffickers turned a court ruling into a false promise

Morocco attributed the surge to “the malicious exploitation of the digital sphere” and “the dissemination of misleading information.” The department also blamed human trafficking networks and misreadings of a Spanish Supreme Court decision.

The June 29, 2026, ruling addressed Spain’s “summary return,” or “hot return,” procedure. The court said that process could not apply to migrants reaching the enclaves by sea, requiring an ordinary procedure with legal safeguards instead.

Criminal networks reportedly circulated claims on platforms including TikTok that the ruling had opened Spain’s borders. Some messages suggested migrants could not be legally returned if they swam around the breakwaters.

Moroccan authorities said the operation involved “early detection,” “increased levels of vigilance,” and the mobilization of border forces. The Moroccan Public Prosecutor’s Office opened a judicial investigation on August 2 to identify people accused of organizing crossings and spreading disinformation.

The surge unfolded around Moroccan King’s Day on July 30, a date when border vigilance is often perceived as potentially more relaxed. The attempts occurred within a 24-hour period from July 30–31, according to the additional research.

The figures differ sharply. Moroccan authorities cited 40,000 attempts, while the Spanish estimate placed the total between 50,000 and 60,000.

Spain backs cooperation as deaths and returns dominate the response

Albares said Spain would intensify diplomatic channels with Morocco and strengthen monitoring along the border. He described bilateral ties as being at an “all-time high” and “unprecedented in history.”

He also pointed to “unusual activity on social networks” and misleading claims about Spanish legal decisions. Albares rejected suggestions that Rabat had used the crossings to press territorial claims over Ceuta and Melilla, calling that idea “completely absurd.”

Morocco likewise called itself a “reliable and responsible partner” committed to international coordination. The government said it would continue cooperating until everyone who entered Ceuta returned.

“the vast majority of those who entered have already returned to Morocco”

Albares said Spain’s partner “continues offering its collaboration” until the process is complete. By August 2, approximately 48,300 to 50,000 migrants had already returned or been returned to Morocco.

The casualty count remains disputed between the two governments. Morocco confirmed 11 deaths on its territory, including 10 drownings and one person who fell “from a rocky area near the city of Ceuta.” Spanish authorities raised the death toll to 72, attributing deaths to drowning or stampedes.

The attempted crossings included mostly young Moroccan men, along with families and elderly people. Authorities estimated that about 700 unaccompanied minors were among those who arrived or tried to cross.

Ceuta struggled as reception capacity collapsed

Juan Jesús Vivas, president of the City of Ceuta, described the situation as a “humanitarian and social emergency.” He said the influx equaled nearly 70% of the city’s population, which stands at 84,000.

Residents reported panic. Many businesses closed during the peak of the arrivals.

Thousands of migrants slept on Ceuta’s streets after reception centers, designed to hold only 500 people, became overwhelmed by thousands of percent. The pressure placed the city’s local services alongside border security at the center of Spain’s response.

Spain began installing a 500-meter-long floating barrier in the Mediterranean. The barrier was intended to stop people from swimming around the Tarajal and Benzú breakwaters.

The dispute widened beyond the Moroccan-Spanish border

Italy, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, suspended its Schengen agreement with Spain on July 31, citing security concerns. The Italian government also criticized what it called Spain’s “permissive” migration policies.

Albares summoned the Italian ambassador to Madrid to protest what he described as “partisan demagoguery” and the “weaponization of immigration.” The exchange added a European diplomatic dispute to the immediate border emergency.

Morocco’s statement sought to keep responsibility for the crossings with traffickers, online manipulators and false interpretations of Spanish law. Spain’s response has combined stronger physical defenses with continued reliance on Rabat.

The Spanish government’s floating barrier and expanded monitoring now sit alongside the Moroccan investigation. Albares said the diplomatic channels would be intensified as both sides work to return those who entered Ceuta.