Moroccan MPs: Melilla Tragedy Was a ‘Migration Mafias’ Operation

Casablanca – Amid ongoing debates to fully make sense of last week’s horrific Melilla tragedy, which resulted in the death of at least 23 Sub-Saharan migrants, Moroccan MPs and members of the Morocco-EU Joint Parliamentary Committee, have described the tragic event as a “migration mafias” operation.

“The 24 June assault has only confirmed Moroccan and Spanish security forces worst fears, namely that the migration mafia ring leaders are more trained in violent street fighting, guerrilla warfare and makeshift weapons fabrication,” the MPs said in a joint statement. “These organized groups exploit the aspirations and desires of African migrants hoping to improve their socio-economic situation to serve their human trafficking agendas.”

The Melilla tragedy occurred as a result of human trafficking, illegal migration, and organized criminal networks, the statement argued, highlighting that the only difference this time was in the variation in tactics used to cross into Spanish territory.

According to the Moroccan parliamentarians, the attacks on the fence at the Spain-Morocco border have gotten more brutal, coordinated, and devastating in recent years. Various military and well-trained elements cross the Great Sahara desert and then through Algeria to easily move into Morocco, they argued.

Although Morocco has proved a significant barrier to illicit migratory flows to Europe, the North African country was unable to prevent this tragedy from happening due to the lack of resources, said the joint statement.

It added, “Fighting illegal migration requires resources and real partnership. For the moment, Morocco uses its own resources to guard 3500 kilometers of sea and 3400 kilometers of land borders.”

As Morocco now faces strong criticism in some quarters, the MPs’ statement made sure to highlight that last week’s tragic events should not overshadow the country’s long-standing record of effectiveness in tackling irregular migration. Moroccan security services have “dismantled 1300 [human trafficking] networks over the last 5 years (256 in 2021 and 100 until May 2022),” it noted.

But the Moroccan MPs acknowledged that a migration policy only focused on the “security approach” cannot be effective in curbing irregular migration. Instead, they argued, countries need to cooperate more closely in promoting lawful and mutually beneficial migration, streamlining visa procedures, putting together an efficient international aid program, as well as contributing to growth and prosperity in migrants’ countries of departure.

This can only happen if nations reconsider their ties and neighborhood policies in order to reach a more sustainable and mutually beneficial approach to migration, the MPs said, concluding: “Shared prosperity is key to this new model of neighborhood policy between Europe and its Southern partners.”