Spanish authorities have accused Morocco of playing a role in the recent surge of migrants crossing into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, describing the influx as a deliberate challenge to Spain’s territorial sovereignty. The extraordinary movement of people, which peaked late last week, overwhelmed the small city of Ceuta, home to approximately 84,000 residents, and has sparked political tensions within the European Union.

Spanish officials reported that around 69,500 migrants who arrived during the surge had been returned to Morocco in the days following the crossings. Approximately 2,500 migrants were still believed to be in Ceuta, including 862 unaccompanied minors. Local authorities and residents described the situation as a humanitarian crisis marked by tragedy, with at least 88 bodies reportedly found in the morgue and additional fatalities suspected on the Moroccan side of the border.

Juan Jesús Vivas, the conservative leader of Ceuta, characterized the influx not merely as a migration issue but as an attack on Spain’s territorial integrity. Vivas suggested that the movement was “if not orchestrated, at least encouraged or permitted by Morocco.” He referenced a similar situation in May 2021, when Morocco relaxed border controls during a diplomatic dispute with Spain—a dispute triggered by Madrid’s decision to provide medical treatment to a Western Sahara independence leader.

Some analysts have linked the recent surge to Spain’s improved relations with Algeria, a regional rival of Morocco. Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles urged Morocco to investigate the incident, indicating shared responsibility in addressing the crisis. Preliminary Spanish intelligence assessments contend that while the Moroccan authorities may not have actively planned the incursion, they failed to prevent it and may have facilitated the migrants’ passage by reducing border surveillance.

Reports suggest that a social media misinformation campaign encouraged migrants to attempt the crossing, spurred in part by a recent Spanish Supreme Court ruling prohibiting the summary deportation of those arriving by sea. As rumors spread, Moroccan border monitoring reportedly diminished and was ultimately lifted, allowing tens of thousands to enter Ceuta.

On the ground, many migrants faced harsh conditions. Some, like Ashraf, a 28-year-old Moroccan migrant, described perilous journeys involving swimming past drowning individuals pushed into the sea by Moroccan police. Family separations and missing persons compounded the distress, with cases of desperate searches for children who had also attempted the crossing.

The crisis has had wider repercussions across the EU. Some member states, including Italy, responded by suspending elements of the Schengen free-movement agreement with Spain, despite the fact Ceuta is not part of Schengen. Spain’s Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares criticized certain EU governments for spreading misinformation and emphasized Spain’s overall low numbers of irregular Mediterranean entries compared to other countries like Italy. He stressed ongoing cooperation with Moroccan authorities to manage the situation.

Ahead of an EU interior ministers meeting convened to address the situation, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised Spain’s rapid response but called for stronger border controls at critical points. Meanwhile, some EU member states acknowledged suspicions that the migrant influx was coordinated rather than accidental but cautioned that Spain could not place sole blame on Morocco given the necessity of cooperation for migrant returns and broader security concerns.

Sources also highlighted the potential for external actors, including Russia, to exploit the crisis through disinformation campaigns aimed at deepening divisions within the EU. The evolving situation continues to test diplomatic relations and migration policies between Spain, Morocco, and the European Union.