Morocco Increases Security in Response to Social Media Calls for Mass Crossing

On August 14, 2026, Morocco ramped up its security operations in the city of Fnideq and other northern cities in anticipation of calls circulating on social media for a mass crossing towards the Spanish-administered city of Ceuta. According to a correspondent from Anadolu Agency, authorities have fortified checkpoints leading to Fnideq, as well as to other northern locales such as Tetouan, Tangier, and Nador. In addition, barbed wire has been installed along the border crossing separating Fnideq from Ceuta, amidst a significant presence of security personnel and auxiliary forces in the city.

The heightened security measures come ahead of August 15, the date on which the Ministry of the Interior noted that it had detected unsourced calls on social media urging for illegal mass crossings into Ceuta and Melilla. On Wednesday, Interior Ministry spokesperson Rashid Khalfi stated that the ministry had observed in recent days the circulation of posts and messages of unknown origin on various social media platforms, inciting attempts at illegal mass crossings to the cities of Ceuta and Melilla on August 15.

The ministry characterized these calls as "practices that pose serious risks to the safety of individuals, seeking to exploit migration issues for incitement that is criminalized by law." Khalfi assured that "authorities are closely monitoring the situation and are taking necessary measures to counter any attempts at illegal crossings and to intercept participants in these activities." Previously, between July 29 and 31, the border with Ceuta experienced an influx of tens of thousands of Moroccans in the largest wave of irregular crossings towards the city, before the majority returned to Fnideq.

Last Friday, Morocco's National Council for Human Rights reported an increase in fatalities during the crossing attempts to Ceuta, raising the number to 14, while Spanish data indicated that 80 individuals had died. Moroccan authorities estimated the number of those attempting to cross at around 40,000, whereas Spanish officials claimed the number exceeded 70,000. Ceuta and Melilla are located on Morocco's northern coast and are administered by Spain, although Morocco has long sought to reclaim sovereignty over these territories.

As reported by aa.com.tr.