Rabat – Spanish authorities are monitoring numerous social media posts inciting a new mass entry into the occupied-Spanish enclave of Ceuta on August 15.
Several anonymous accounts inciting irregular migration are posting several viral publications on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, filling social media with calls to head to Ceuta on August 15.
EFE quoted police sources who confirmed that security forces have been monitoring the campaign for several days, examining the posts with “great caution.”
“The origin of these messages could cross the borders of Spain and Morocco. In other words, they don’t rule out that the origin is in other countries and that even the number of followers or likes has been manipulated,” the agency said.
The sources admitted that the massive entry to Ceuta last week is attributed to a fully organized campaign rather than a migration crisis.
Several reports identified social media accounts originating from Algeria and bearing the country’s phone code.
The revelation aligns with Morocco’s response to the situation, with the government emphasizing that digital misinformation and online campaigns contributed to the mass irregular migration.
Spain said over 72,000 people crossed to Ceuta on July 30, with most of the migrants subsequently returned.
Morocco estimates the number of migrants that headed to Ceuta at 40,000 and to Melilla at over 1,000. It emphasized its commitment to migration cooperation with Spain, and slammed criticism, saying that Rabat is not the EU’s concierge.
A Moroccan government source also emphasized that Rabat cannot bear the consequences of a ruling from a judge who dismantled a whole system tackling irregular migration—referring to the Spanish Supreme Court ruling of July 8 restricting the immediate return of migrants who swim to Ceuta.
Spain, however, clarified that the ruling says there can be no immediate returns and that those who entered the enclave illegally do not automatically get transferred to the mainland or stay in the enclave, but rather will face the immigration law procedures.
