Morocco says it warned Spain of migration crisis after court ruling

Published Aug 4, 10:00 AM UTC

A senior Moroccan official stated that Morocco had warned Spain that a Spanish Supreme Court ruling on July 8, which barred the immediate return of migrants arriving by sea, would create a problem. This warning came after at least 50,000 people, mostly Moroccans, entered the Spanish exclave of Ceuta on foot or by swimming from Fnideq, overwhelming local authorities. The official argued that the influx was not a failure of Morocco's security apparatus, citing the large numbers and a strong 'pull effect' that made force ineffective. He emphasized that migration management is not Morocco's sole responsibility, noting the kingdom spends around 500 million euros annually on it. Despite the crisis, he said Rabat and Madrid acted as reliable partners in coordination. The official concluded that it is now up to Spain to address the challenges posed by its own court ruling, while Morocco continues preventive measures and accepts returns of those who cross.