Morocco has denied any involvement in the mass crossing of migrants into Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta in July, rejecting allegations that its security forces deliberately allowed the movement to take place.
In its first official response to the incident, Morocco’s Foreign Ministry said there were “no facts” demonstrating any role by Rabat in the mass influx.
The ministry also accused Spain of attempting to make Morocco a “scapegoat for political score-settling,” insisting that Rabat would not accept responsibility for events it did not orchestrate.
The denial followed a Spanish police report which alleged that Moroccan security forces had acted with “total permissiveness” during the mass crossing, raising questions about whether authorities in Morocco deliberately relaxed border controls.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, however, has refrained from directly accusing Morocco of organising the incident, saying there was no evidence to prove that Rabat had orchestrated the mass movement.
The mass crossing on July 30 and 31 saw more than 70,000 migrants enter Ceuta from Morocco, according to the report, while scores of people were reported dead during the episode.
The incident also heightened tensions within the European Union over migration policy and renewed debate over the bloc’s reliance on neighbouring countries to help control irregular migration into Europe.
Morocco and Spain have maintained close cooperation on migration and border security, making the allegations particularly sensitive for relations between the two countries.
