Morocco has officially rejected allegations that its authorities facilitated the unprecedented mass crossing of migrants into Ceuta, the small Spanish exclave on the northern tip of Africa, insisting there are "no facts or reports" proving any involvement by Moroccan security forces. The statement, issued by Morocco's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday, marks Rabat's first formal response to a Spanish police report accusing Moroccan security forces of "total permissiveness" during the surge, which took place on July 30 and 31.
More than 70,000 people — the majority of them young Moroccan men responding to calls circulated on social media — crossed into Ceuta during those two days in what became one of the largest single migration events in recent European history. Scores of people died in the chaos, the incident triggered bitter infighting within the European Union over migration policy, and Spain's National Court, a high-level judicial body in Madrid that handles cases with cross-border dimensions, has since indicated the events may have involved offences against the integrity and sovereignty of the Spanish state.
Morocco's foreign ministry pushed back sharply, accusing certain Spanish political and media circles of exploiting the kingdom to serve "domestic agendas" ahead of national elections due by mid-2027. Rabat said it refused to be treated as a "scapegoat for political score-settling" and criticised what it described as irrational and populist outbidding by Spanish opposition parties, who have targeted Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's relationship with Morocco since the crisis. Sánchez himself has consistently said there is no "solid proof" that Morocco orchestrated the crossing, and has separately accused Israel, Russia, and far-right groups of spreading disinformation about the events.
Declassified Spanish intelligence documents published on Wednesday revealed that agencies had warned both Madrid and their Moroccan counterparts of plans for a mass entry into Ceuta just one day before the crossing occurred. One military intelligence document dated July 30 assessed it as "highly likely" that Moroccan authorities were not actively encouraging the wave but had acted in a "negligent and passive manner." Morocco, for its part, turned the question back on Spain, asking why migrants were not being turned back given Rabat's official readmission agreements, and why unaccompanied minors had not been returned to their families despite urgent requests.
Most migrants have since returned to Morocco, though NGOs report that more than 100 people died as a result of the crossing. Thousands remain in Ceuta in difficult conditions, sustaining pressure on the city and on bilateral relations. The EU announced on Wednesday that it would provide Spain with €115 million in emergency funding to strengthen border security and support returns. Despite the sharp diplomatic exchanges, Morocco stressed the importance of the relationship with Madrid, describing Spain as its leading economic partner and affirming its commitment to ties based on "good neighbourliness, political understanding, and security cooperation."