Morocco has rejected accusations that its authorities facilitated a mass crossing of migrants into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in July, saying there is no evidence linking Rabat to the incident and accusing political forces in Spain of using the issue for domestic purposes.
Morocco’s Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that it “regrets and objects” to allegations that Moroccan authorities helped thousands of irregular migrants reach Ceuta.
The ministry said some Spanish political and media circles were continuing to use Morocco to advance domestic political agendas, after Spanish judicial authorities referred to what they described as an “undeniable operation of direction and facilitation” from the Moroccan side.
“It is deeply regrettable that historic parties, supposedly experienced in government, should fall into this trap, where irrational and populist bidding prevails over reason,” the ministry said in a statement.
More than 70,000 people crossed from Morocco towards Ceuta in July, most of them young people responding to calls circulated on social media, triggering a major political and humanitarian crisis.
Most later returned, but non-governmental organisations said more than 100 people died during the attempted crossings, according to Reuters.
Local authorities say thousands of migrants, including unaccompanied minors, remain in Ceuta, with some living in temporary camps and others sleeping on streets or beaches.
The situation has fuelled almost daily protests by residents angered by the Spanish government’s handling of the crisis.
Spanish opposition parties have increasingly targeted Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s relationship with Morocco, accusing Rabat of either facilitating or orchestrating the mass movement.
Sanchez’s government has said there is no “conclusive evidence” that Moroccan authorities were involved.
Spain’s National Court, however, said the events could involve several possible legal violations, including offences affecting Spain’s territorial integrity or independence.
Morocco criticised the involvement of Spanish judicial and legislative institutions in the controversy, saying such moves risked deepening tensions.
“Why does the blaming of Morocco continue in the absence of any data, facts or reports proving the involvement of Moroccan authorities?” the Foreign Ministry said.
It also questioned why Spain had not deported irregular migrants after Morocco formally agreed to receive them, and why unaccompanied Moroccan minors had not been returned to their families despite repeated requests from Rabat.
Documents released by the Spanish government on Wednesday showed that Spanish intelligence and security agencies had warned both Madrid and their Moroccan counterparts of plans to storm Ceuta one day before the mass crossings began.
Morocco said it refused to be turned into an electoral issue ahead of Spain’s next national vote, due by mid-2027.
“The kingdom refuses to become a political commodity ahead of elections, and it will not accept being used as a scapegoat to settle political scores,” the ministry said.
Rabat also stressed the close security, migration and economic cooperation between Morocco and Spain since Sanchez endorsed Morocco’s autonomy proposal for Western Sahara in 2022.
The ministry said cooperation between the two countries had produced tangible results, noting that Spain is Morocco’s largest economic partner, while Morocco is Spain’s second-largest trading partner outside the European Union.
It also highlighted security cooperation, saying joint efforts had helped save lives and dismantle terrorist and criminal networks, often at significant human and material cost to Moroccan security forces.
