The Spanish Embassy in Rabat has issued a critical alert to the government of Pedro Sánchez, indicating a surge of social media messages encouraging Moroccans to participate in a new mass migration attempt to Ceuta on Wednesday, September 23. This coincides with the local security forces being heavily engaged in organizing the legislative elections in Morocco, as confirmed by sources from Moncloa. The warning originated from the Interior Ministry of the Spanish legation in Morocco and highlights that these online communications frame the elections as an "exceptional opportunity" to evade the controls imposed by Rabat to prevent a repeat of the dramatic scenes witnessed on July 30 and 31 at the Tarajal pier. However, the embassy has noted that there is no indication that the elections will significantly impact border protection measures.
The Interior Ministry in Rabat, tasked with managing institutional relations with Moroccan security forces and effectively acting as a delegation of the Spanish Ministry of the Interior in the neighboring country, pointed out that many messages incite entry into both Ceuta and Melilla, although most communications predominantly focus on the autonomous city governed by Juan Jesús Vivas. The alert suggests that the volume of such publications is expected to increase as the date approaches. Spanish intelligence services are actively monitoring internal population movements in Morocco to preemptively detect any potential mass approach to the border, reminiscent of the influx at the end of July. On that occasion, the National Intelligence Center (CNI), the National Police, and the Civil Guard warned Moncloa about a dramatic increase in swimming crossings following a Supreme Court ruling on June 29 that prohibited the immediate expulsion of foreigners arriving by sea.
This situation mirrors the events of July 30, when irregular migrants took advantage of the diminished security presence at the border, as many forces were dispatched to the neighboring city of Tétouan for the central celebrations of Throne Day, one of Morocco's most significant holidays. Legislative elections in Morocco carry little weight in the political landscape, which functions de facto as a dictatorial regime with power concentrated in the hands of Mohamed VI. The growing discontent among Moroccan youth due to a lack of opportunities and public services poses a threat to keeping voter participation below 50%. In the midst of a public relations campaign aimed at projecting an image of modernity and progress, Rabat cannot afford a failed electoral turnout and will mobilize police forces to ensure success.
On the ground, attitudes in Morocco are shifting. Approximately 200 riot police and officers from the Moroccan Gendarmerie participated in a containment drill near the Ceuta border, as reported by various sources. Warnings of potential new influxes have increased following the catastrophic series of events in July that allowed for mass entries. Declassified intelligence reports from the government indicate that the overflow on July 30 was triggered by social media calls similar to those currently circulating for this Wednesday. In response, the perimeter of Ceuta was fortified on August 15 to prevent another collapse of the border, and intelligence services remain on high alert to neutralize any new episodes. Another mass entry could severely strain the state, which is already grappling with challenges in managing and assisting over 10,000 irregular migrants still present in Ceuta, with local government estimates suggesting the number could be as high as 13,000. Only about 4,000 are housed in government camps, while the remainder are left wandering the city’s streets, beaches, and hills.
Additionally, the Interior Ministry prioritizes preventing these individuals from crossing into the mainland. The government has assured the European Union that it will not allow free movement within the Schengen area. On Thursday, the National Police apprehended a Moroccan national at the port of Ceuta who was attempting to board a ferry to Algeciras with two irregular migrants hidden in his vehicle, as reported by El Confidencial.
As reported by elconfidencial.com.
