Rabat – In a dramatic shift of position, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez appears to be bowing to continued pressure from the far-right Vox and the conservative Partido Popular (PP), which have been launching a smear campaign targeting Morocco since the Ceuta mass crossing in late July.
Months after repeatedly and consistently commending Morocco’s efforts in tackling the migration crisis, especially in the latest mass crossing when tens of thousands of migrants entered the occupied city on July 30-31, Sanchez now shifts his position and claims Rabat’s border control “failed” in the enclave.
Sanchez made his remarks today during an interview with CNN in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
“We are investigating what happened in those days back in July, but at the same time we have asked Morocco for actions and also for answers because it is also clear that its border control failed,” Sanchez said.
While the Spanish government has been emphasizing that it has asked for explanations on the situation in Ceuta, it has repeatedly backed cooperation with Morocco to tackle the irregular migration crisis – especially in handling the situation of July.
Since July, Spain has said Morocco’s cooperation has been key in handling the crisis, and has stressed that blackmail and hybrid war accusations targeting Rabat are merely Netflix-worthy allegations.
Spain said there is no evidence Morocco launched any similar campaigns against Spain and stressed Rabat’s involvement in contributing to mitigating the crisis of the mass crossings since day one.
Morocco and Spain responded to the crisis through an emergency agreement on the immediate return of all those who entered the occupied cities in the mass crossing of July.
The majority of the migrants returned as part of the agreement voluntarily.
“There is no information that solidly establishes Morocco’s responsibility for the wave we faced on July 31,” Sanchez said previously.
Such claims, however, are swiftly picked up and weaponized by the far right and other political actors, who repeatedly seize on each incident to recycle sweeping, often unsupported accusations against Morocco and turn isolated episodes into broader political attacks.
Morocco has responded to similar accusations, emphasizing that Rabat has always been committed to fulfilling its responsibility in tackling the migration crisis.
Rabat has also rejected the campaign orchestrated by the far right, stressing that its role stems from a commitment based on shared responsibility – refusing to be regarded as Europe’s police or gendarmerie.
It also stressed that tackling migration is a shared responsibility, while Moroccan ministers and other public figures have reiterated that Ceuta and Melilla remain two occupied cities, urging the government to reopen this file to defend Rabat’s rightful historical and geographical claims to both enclaves.
Such demands sparked nerves among Spanish officials, including within the government, which continues to reject any dialogue over the status of Ceuta and Melilla, while overlooking their geographical location on the North African coast.
