Enhanced Border Surveillance Amid Legislative Elections
As the Moroccan legislative elections approach, coordination between Rabat and Madrid has intensified, particularly regarding the surveillance of the border with the occupied city of Ceuta. Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares emphasized on Tuesday that Morocco has committed to implementing necessary measures to prevent any new attempts of mass crossings into Ceuta on September 23. His comments, reported by El País from New York, come in response to social media calls encouraging a collective entry attempt into the occupied city on the day of the elections. Madrid is closely monitoring these messages and has strengthened its preventive measures along the border.
Albares highlighted the level of coordination with his Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita. According to the Spanish minister, the two officials are in near-daily contact and are working with their respective administrations to thwart any new collective crossing attempts. Moroccan authorities have assured Madrid that they will deploy all necessary resources to prevent further attempts on September 23. This commitment follows several tense incidents reported at the Ceuta border, where Spanish authorities have noted recent online calls urging migrants to attempt to reach the city via land or sea routes.
Strategic Measures to Address Migrant Concerns
In response, Madrid is taking action on multiple fronts, such as reinforcing border surveillance, preventing crossing attempts, and combating misinformation about the consequences of irregular entry into Spain. Albares indicated that Spanish authorities are cooperating not only with their Moroccan counterparts but also with media outlets in Morocco to debunk certain misleading narratives circulating on social media. These targeted messages suggest that irregular entry into Ceuta could allow individuals to stay in Spain indefinitely. Notably, the Spanish government has observed that the mobilization surrounding the September 23 date does not appear to match the level of organization seen prior to the events of late July.
The issue of Ceuta and the migrants present there is expected to be directly addressed during an upcoming meeting between the Moroccan and Spanish foreign ministers, Nasser Bourita and José Manuel Albares, in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meetings. According to Cadena SER, discussions will focus on the current situation in Ceuta and the return of migrants still residing in the city. The topic of returns holds significant importance in the ongoing dialogue between Rabat and Madrid, with both nations working on implementing procedures to facilitate the return of individuals who have entered Spanish territory irregularly, once their cases are established and administrative conditions are met.
Albares previously underscored the continuity of discussions with Rabat regarding returns and the prevention of new crossing attempts. Spain’s strategy involves three key components: facilitating the return of irregular entrants, combating online misinformation, and enhancing border control. The information aspect is gaining increased prominence, as Madrid believes certain social media publications generate false expectations about the possibilities of settling in Spain following irregular entry. Spanish diplomatic missions in Morocco are also actively participating in this information campaign.
As the September 23 elections draw near, both capitals are keen to prevent any new social media calls from translating into collective crossing attempts. Madrid's response hinges on reinforcing border control and coordinating efforts with Rabat. For Moroccan authorities, the announced mobilization of necessary resources is part of a broader migratory cooperation framework between the two countries. The forthcoming meeting between Bourita and Albares in New York is expected to further these discussions, with Ceuta, the prevention of irregular crossings, and the return of migrants in the city among the primary topics of conversation.
As reported by fr.hespress.com.
