Morocco Demands Action on Migrant Crisis
The Moroccan Justice Minister, Abdellatif Ouahbi, has made a poignant appeal to Spain on Saturday, August 22, 2026, urging the return of both surviving migrants and the bodies of those who tragically drowned while attempting to cross the Tarajal border crossing towards the autonomous city of Ceuta on Thursday, July 30. In a revealing interview with the Arab broadcaster Al Arabiya, Ouahbi called for the signing of an agreement that would facilitate the return of both the living and the deceased, advocating for a comprehensive approach to address migration challenges between the two nations. "We have requested the bodies. We have not been given the bodies, hence we continue to talk about them," he stated emphatically.
Furthermore, Ouahbi expressed frustration over Spain's failure to inform Morocco about the number of deceased migrants. He remarked, "We have neither medical records nor access to identify these bodies. You cannot hand over the bodies without knowing who these individuals are." This lack of communication has led Ouahbi to advocate for a mutual agreement that encompasses both the living migrants and those who have lost their lives. He questioned the rationale behind differentiating between the deceased and the living, asserting, "We do not distinguish between the dead and the living. We want them all. Why this distinction? (...) We are only being asked to take in the dead. This is illogical," he argued. He also highlighted Morocco's readiness to send buses for the return of these individuals, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.
Consequences of Migration Crisis
In light of this ongoing crisis, Ouahbi underscored that Morocco cannot effectively prevent migration to Spain as long as the latter continues to attract migrants through campaigns that encourage young people to undertake perilous journeys. On a somber note, a total of 18 migrants were laid to rest in the Muslim cemetery of Ceuta, three weeks after a border crisis that claimed dozens of lives and prompted over 72,000 individuals from Morocco to flood into the autonomous city. The graves were marked with numbers to facilitate the identification of the remains, should family members come forward to claim them later.
Authorities are still working diligently to identify the victims, a process that has been progressing slowly. These deceased individuals are among the 82 victims discovered by Spain following the massive influx of migrants at the end of July in Ceuta. The situation remains dire as both countries navigate the complexities of migration and its profound human cost.As reported by mallorca-services.es.
