Morocco says Spain should have foreseen migration impact of court ruling
Morocco said misinformation and smuggling networks drove the surge, as about 60,000 people reached Ceuta and more than 80 died, officials said.
- Between July 31 and August 2, 2026, an estimated 60,000 migrants surged into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, creating chaotic scenes as thousands swam or walked across the border near Fnideq.
- Moroccan officials attributed the mass surge to social media misinformation and a July 8 Spanish Supreme Court ruling that they claim weakened border deterrence by limiting immediate migrant returns.
- Coordinated digital campaigns generated over 11 million potential impressions across social platforms, fueling the influx, while authorities reported conflicting death tolls of 72 in Spain and 11 in Morocco.
- Most migrants have since returned to Morocco, though the crisis sparked EU tensions; 22 member states signed a letter criticizing Spain's migration policies as encouraging further attempts.
- Investigations into human trafficking networks are ongoing as authorities work to identify those who coordinated the digital mobilization, with prosecutors examining how organized groups exploited social platforms to fuel the surge.
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After days of immense pressure on residents, public services, and the local economy, the Ceuta government has decided to quantify the impact and send the bill to Pedro Sánchez's administration. Ceuta's president, Juan Jesús Vivas, explained that he will submit a report to the Ministry of Finance detailing the extraordinary expenses resulting from the massive influx of immigrants, an event the regional government has described as a veritable "inv…
European Union interior ministers praised Spain for its swift handling of the situation in Ceuta, which was seized by migrants from Morocco last Thursday, at a meeting on Tuesday. They said Madrid's response to the situation was effective, and EU migration commissioner Magnus Brunner called the events a test of resilience for the EU.
Videos and photos of the migration crisis have flooded social networks in recent days. The Ukrainian Foreign Minister accused Russia of being manoeuvring in this "intensive propaganda campaign".
Morocco had warned Spain of migratory risks that a recent judicial decision was taking place before the crisis in Ceuta.
The messages and videos published on Facebook, TikTok or Instagram seem to have contributed significantly to the influx of candidates for exile in Ceuta at the end of July. At this stage, there is no evidence that it could have been a destabilizing operation.
Ceuta migrants caught between humanitarian disaster and diplomatic row
While most of the estimated 50,000 migrants who arrived last week in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta have returned to Morocco, theories are circulating about what led to the mass arrival. RFI spoke to Spanish journalist Ignacio Cembrero, who specialises in migration between Spain and Morocco.
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