Ongoing consultations between Morocco and Spain aim to establish a joint response to the ramifications of the recent migrant crisis in the occupied city of Ceuta. Central to these discussions is the plight of Moroccan minors who have arrived in the city, as well as the urgent need to bolster judicial cooperation to combat human trafficking networks.
According to information gathered by Hespress, Moroccan Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi is engaged in talks with his Spanish counterpart regarding the procedures for addressing the cases of Moroccan minors present in Ceuta. This dialogue is complicated by recent Spanish judicial decisions concerning the immediate return of migrants who have entered the city. Morocco has made its position clear: it is willing to repatriate its minor citizens, provided their identities are confirmed and each case is assessed on an individual basis. The overarching goal is to ensure these children can return to their families, which is deemed their natural support system.
Minister Ouahbi expressed Morocco's commitment, stating, "Morocco is dedicated to the return of all its minors," emphasizing that the issue of repatriation does not pose a fundamental challenge as long as their identities are verified. However, he stresses an essential distinction in Morocco's approach: minors involved in attempted crossings should not be labeled as delinquents. "We do not view these children as criminals, but rather as victims of human trafficking," he asserts.
Targeting Trafficking Networks
This distinction is reflected in Morocco's proposed legal response. According to the minister, prosecutions should primarily target the networks that facilitate these crossings, exploit the vulnerability of the youth, or incite violence. Individuals involved in acts of violence, arson, or assaults may also face legal action. Ouahbi mentioned that nearly a hundred individuals are currently subject to legal proceedings, relating specifically to violence, human trafficking, or arson incidents. The Moroccan government aims to ensure that the response to these events does not resort to an indiscriminate repressive approach towards youths whose vulnerabilities are being exploited by smuggling networks.
This stance comes in the wake of late July events, which highlighted the extent of mobilization mechanisms surrounding attempts to cross into occupied Ceuta, as well as the challenges faced by authorities in distinguishing between ordinary movements of people within Morocco and preparatory actions for irregular migration. Ouahbi underscored that freedom of movement within Moroccan territory remains a fundamental right. A citizen traveling from the center of the country to the north cannot be barred from traveling solely based on suspicions regarding their intentions. However, the legal status changes when movement is part of an effective attempt at irregular migration.
Rabat Seeks Broader Context for Crisis Management
In addition to addressing the situation of minors, Morocco seeks to frame the crisis within a broader context. For Abdellatif Ouahbi, the management of irregular migration cannot sustainably rely solely on cooperation between Rabat and Madrid. He insists that the European Union must also contribute to finding lasting solutions, considering the humanitarian, legal, and security dimensions of the phenomenon.
This position does not prevent Rabat from wishing to maintain its relationship with Madrid. On the contrary, Ouahbi emphasizes the strategic nature of the Moroccan-Spanish partnership and warns against attempts to exploit migration tensions to deteriorate relations between the two nations. "Spain is a friendly country," he highlights, advocating for the resolution of difficulties through dialogue rather than allowing the migration issue to become a source of bilateral tension.
The minister also cautions against those who might seek to "fish in troubled waters" between Rabat and Madrid by instrumentalizing the events in Ceuta. He believes that the solution lies in enhanced direct coordination and strengthened legal and institutional cooperation. Morocco thus advocates a two-pronged strategy: facilitating, when conditions are met, the return of Moroccan minors in a manner that respects their rights, while simultaneously intensifying prosecutions against those networks that organize and exploit crossing attempts. "We are not willing to sacrifice our adolescents and youth," the minister asserts, noting that they represent the future of the country and should not face retaliatory measures.
The approach posits that criminal responsibility should weigh more heavily on the organizers and traffickers. When their activities result in violence or the deaths of migrants, their accountability can become particularly severe, depending on the circumstances and legal qualifications determined by the judiciary.
As reported by fr.hespress.com.
