Recognition of the Migrant Crisis
On Tuesday, Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles acknowledged before Congress that the Supreme Court's ruling regarding border expulsions at Sebta had created a significant "air pocket" that contributed to the massive influx of migrants observed on July 30 and 31. In her explanations, Robles referenced a report from the Spanish Defense Staff, outlining the surge in mobilization in three phases. The initial phase, labeled as "concentrated migration," commenced following the July 8 publication of the court decision, which ruled that individuals who reached the city by swimming could not be immediately expelled by maritime means.
Since that date, "several hundred" individuals began crossing, with their numbers gradually escalating into the thousands. Robles pointed out that there was an "air pocket fueled by a self-interested interpretation of the ruling," which was widely propagated on social media platforms. Furthermore, another message emerged that highlighted Morocco's Throne Day celebrations as an opportune moment for crossing the border. According to Robles, Facebook groups disseminated the notion that police presence on the Moroccan side would be diminished due to the festivities.
Social Media as a Mobilization Tool
The Minister emphasized that what was termed a "mass assault" did not stem from a centralized organization but rather from a form of "self-organization" among the migrants. They were reportedly drawn towards the border by a "message of opportunity" and posts indicating a "supposed absence of obstacles" to entering Sebta. The version presented by the Defense Ministry places social media at the center of this mobilization. Robles noted that the rapid spread of these messages hindered security forces from "reacting in time" as the attempts to cross multiplied simultaneously, reaching thousands.
Robles also asserted that it was materially impossible to "prevent, through the use of force, these surges of hundreds or thousands of people." She warned that such an intervention could have had dramatic consequences, stating, "The number of deaths would have been incalculable," during her testimony before the Defense Committee. This statement echoed the explanations provided by Morocco on August 2, when the Interior Ministry indicated that the authorities had deployed a proactive and comprehensive response based on early detection of signals, increased vigilance, mobilization of security services, and intensified land and maritime surveillance. This strategy effectively managed the situation, protected human lives, maintained public order, and secured the borders, all while respecting the law and the principle of proportionality. Rabat also attributed these crossing attempts to the dissemination of misleading information on social media, human trafficking networks, and a misinterpretation of the Spanish judicial decisions.
The hearing of Margarita Robles marks the beginning of a week in which eight ministers will be called to account before Congress regarding the government’s response to a crisis that was triggered 26 days earlier by the entry of approximately 80,000 migrants. Concurrently, Pedro Sánchez presided over the first meeting of the National Security Council dedicated to Sebta. Government vice-presidents, several ministers, key state security officials, and Juan Jesús Vivas, who participated remotely, were present at the meeting.
This gathering led to the formal establishment of a unified command tasked with managing the crisis. The coordination will be overseen by Minister of Territorial Policy, Ángel Víctor Torres, who will lead a committee that also includes Juan Jesús Vivas, the government delegate, representatives from the National Intelligence Center, and various relevant ministries.
As reported by fr.le360.ma.
