Morocco denies involvement in Ceuta crossing of 70,000 migrants as Spain declassifies intelligence files

Morocco rejects border accusations and election exploitation

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Morocco issued an official communique on 10 September through the state news agency MAP, denying any involvement in the entry of more than 70,000 migrants into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. The statement marks Rabat's first formal reaction since the mass border crossings took place on 30 and 31 July. Moroccan authorities stated that no operational data, investigative findings, or intelligence reports demonstrate complicity by Moroccan border guards. Rabat criticized Spanish political and media figures for exploiting Morocco in domestic disputes ahead of Spain's national legislative elections scheduled for the first half of 2027. The ministry also expressed regret that established Spanish political parties and judicial institutions engaged in accusatory rhetoric, emphasizing that bilateral ties should adhere to the 2022 joint declaration founded on mutual trust, mutual respect, and continuous dialogue.

The Kingdom of Morocco refuses to be used as a pre-electoral political pawn, nor will it accept being the scapegoat in political score-settling.

Declassified intelligence files and leaked police assessments

The diplomatic tension followed the publication on 9 September of 40 declassified intelligence files and communiqués by the Spanish government, covering security assessments produced between 1 and 31 July. Documents from the National Intelligence Centre (CNI) revealed that Spanish agencies monitored internal communications across social media networks with 180,000 members organizing coordinated crossing attempts. The CNI transmitted formal warnings to Moroccan intelligence and the Spanish government delegation in Ceuta on 29 July, 24 hours before the crossing began, flagging planned movements across border checkpoints and by sea. A leaked Spanish police report from early September concluded that Moroccan security forces exhibited total permissiveness on 30 and 31 July, making no serious efforts to disperse or push crowds away from the border perimeter. In response, Moroccan officials called for a comprehensive investigation to examine all circumstances, identify external interference, and expose manipulation.

Political fallout for the Sánchez administration

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez addressed the controversy in parliament after announcing the declassification of the July documents, maintaining that intelligence agencies delivered no conclusive evidence that Morocco orchestrated the crossing. Sánchez also stated that executive agencies received no advance warning indicating an entry of such massive scale. Opposition lawmakers and parliamentary allies criticized the government for failing to act effectively on the 29 July intelligence alerts. Juan Jesús Vivas, the president of Ceuta representing the People's Party, accused Rabat of facilitating the migrant wave through either action or omission. In response to the humanitarian and security strain on the enclave, the European Union allocated 115 million euros in financial assistance to support Spain.

Humanitarian conditions and repatriation disputes

The mass influx into Ceuta, which alongside Melilla represents the European Union's only land border with Africa, resulted in dozens of deaths and disappearances as individuals attempted the crossing on foot and by swimming. Although the majority of the 70,000 migrants returned across the border shortly after entering, thousands remain stranded without shelter on Ceuta's beaches and streets. Discrepancies exist over the remaining migrant population: the Spanish central government estimates that 5,000 migrants remain in the enclave, whereas Ceuta local authorities report a figure of at least 10,000. Rabat questioned why Spanish authorities have delayed the return of irregular adult migrants despite Moroccan commitments to readmit them, while also demanding the prompt return of unaccompanied minors to their families.