Spanish President Defends Morocco Amid Ceuta Influx
In a recent statement, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has firmly denied any involvement of the Moroccan regime in the significant influx of migrants into Ceuta that occurred a month ago. During an interview on the radio network Cadena Ser, he explained that both the National Intelligence Center (CNI) and the Spanish Police had prior reports concerning the situation at the Ceuta border, but they lacked any indication of the scale or severity of the events that unfolded on July 30 and 31.
Sánchez disclosed that in the lead-up to the mass entry of approximately 72,000 migrants, several meetings were convened involving local authorities and general administration led by the Government Delegation. However, the information shared regarding irregular migration flows was consistent with previous years, where summer months typically see spikes in attempted entries. "There was no information that indicated the magnitude of the crisis," Sánchez stated, emphasizing that despite this, measures were taken to enhance border controls and prepare the Temporary Immigrant Stay Center (CETI) in anticipation of further arrivals. He also mentioned that no one could have predicted such a surge.
Disinformation as a Catalyst for Migration
When questioned about the origins of the crisis and the level of understanding of the events that transpired, Sánchez admitted, "Unfortunately, we do not have that information. We are still investigating it." He highlighted that no evidence suggests that the mass entry was instigated by the Moroccan government or monarchy. In a surprising turn, he proposed that the influx may have been triggered by disinformation circulated on social media, particularly alleging that false narratives were propagated from both Israel and Russia. This speculation hints at potential retaliatory dynamics in response to Spain's positions on issues concerning Gaza and Ukraine, though Sánchez did not elaborate on the nature of any purported collaboration between the two nations.
According to recent ministerial communications, the disinformation campaigns were centered around two main falsehoods: the assertion that there would be no controls during a public holiday in Morocco and a recent Supreme Court ruling that allegedly prohibited the deportation of individuals who arrived. This misleading dual message may have contributed to the sudden arrival of 72,000 individuals, with thousands still remaining in Ceuta.
As reported by naiz.eus.
