Morocco says working to prevent potential new Ceuta crossings surge

Moroccan authorities say they are working to prevent more people from crossing to Spanish-administered Ceuta as a new disinformation campaign on social media called for mass attempts to enter.

Morocco’s Ministry of Interior said on Wednesday that it has increased security along its borders with the Spanish exclaves Ceuta and Melilla.

Authorities also said legal proceedings would be taken against those spreading online posts that encourage irregular migration. The surge in late July had been triggered by a social media campaign calling for mass crossings.

Online posts have been circulating throughout the past week. This time, they claim that the border crossing between the Moroccan town of Fnideq and Ceuta would be open on August 15, a public holiday in Spain.

The Moroccan ministry said it “detected over the last days the circulation of publications and anonymous messages on social media inciting the organisation of collective, illegal crossing attempts” towards Ceuta.

Additionally, Moroccan Interior Ministry spokesman Rachid El Khalfi said that “all the necessary measures were taken to counter all attempts at illegal passage and intercept every person seeking to participate.”

A group of people accused of being involved has been summoned for investigation, El Khalfi added in remarks carried by the state news agency MAP.

In late July, approximately 72,000 people from Morocco crossed into Ceuta irregularly, most of them arriving via the sea over a few days.