By Emmanuel Nduka
Morocco has said it warned Spain that a recent court ruling on the treatment of migrants arriving by sea could trigger a major migration crisis, following the unprecedented influx of tens of thousands of people into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta.
A senior Moroccan official disclosed that Rabat raised concerns with Spanish authorities shortly after Spain’s Supreme Court ruled on July 8 that migrants arriving by sea should not be subjected to immediate returns, warning that the decision could encourage irregular migration.
The warning came after criminal smuggling networks allegedly began circulating misinformation about the ruling, convincing many migrants that they would be allowed to remain in Spain if they reached its territory.
The concerns proved significant when, last week, at least 50,000 people, most of them Moroccans, crossed into Ceuta from the neighbouring Moroccan city of Fnideq, either by swimming or on foot. The massive influx overwhelmed the small Spanish enclave before authorities began returning thousands of migrants to Morocco.
According to the Moroccan official, discussions with Spanish authorities began around July 22 and 23 after trafficking networks started exploiting the court’s decision.
He said Morocco made it clear that the ruling would create a “pull factor” for migrants and eventually lead to a large-scale movement towards Ceuta.
However, Spain has disputed the claim that it was forewarned about the scale of the crisis.
Government spokesperson Elma Saiz said there was no intelligence or official report indicating that authorities should have anticipated an event of such magnitude.
Morocco also rejected suggestions that its security forces failed to contain the crossings, arguing that the sheer number of migrants made it impossible to stop them by force alone.
The official said it would have been unrealistic to expect Moroccan law enforcement officers to physically prevent tens of thousands of people from crossing, adding that once the crowds became overwhelming, the situation exceeded what security personnel could reasonably control.
He further argued that migration management should not rest solely on Morocco, noting that the North African kingdom spends about €500 million annually on border control and migration-related operations.
Despite the crisis, the Moroccan official said relations between Rabat and Madrid remain strong, describing both countries as reliable partners that continue to coordinate closely on migration issues.
He added that Morocco remains committed to accepting the return of migrants who cross into Spain illegally and will continue taking preventive measures to reduce irregular departures.
Spain also acknowledged Morocco’s cooperation, with Saiz saying the country’s rapid response to the Ceuta crisis would not have been possible without Rabat’s support.
The migration surge has renewed concerns within the European Union over border management and the unintended consequences of legal decisions that criminal networks may exploit to encourage irregular migration.
