Spain has seen no evidence "whatsoever" that Morocco planned or facilitated a mass border breach into its north African territory of Ceuta, according to Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. This statement was made during his address to parliament on Thursday, following a police report that claimed Moroccan border forces aided approximately 70,000 people in crossing the border in late July.
Context of the Crisis
Sánchez emphasized, "I can assure you that no institution – not the diplomatic service, nor the European Commission, nor any international body – has provided the Spanish government with any solid evidence that Morocco planned or carried out the incident. None whatsoever." His remarks came after about 50,000 people marched in Madrid to protest his handling of the Ceuta crisis.
The Prime Minister also denied that the government had received any prior warnings about the mass breach, stating that no reports had anticipated "the scale or probability of what eventually happened." Throughout the crisis, Sánchez has defended Morocco, highlighting its cooperation in returning most of the migrants shortly after the surge.
Diplomatic Tensions
On August 21, Spain summoned Morocco’s ambassador due to "unacceptable statements" made by two Moroccan ministers regarding Ceuta and Melilla, another Spanish territory. Last month, Morocco’s justice minister, Abdellatif Ouahbi, reiterated Rabat’s sovereignty claims over these cities. While Sánchez ruled out Moroccan government involvement for now, he acknowledged that Moroccan forces allowed crossings during a crucial 10-hour period on July 30. Many migrants reported being actively encouraged to cross.
