Morocco blames TikTok misinformation for mass migrant surge into Spanish exclave Ceuta, death tolls diverge
Rabat says false social media posts sparked spontaneous influx of up to 40,000 people; Spain reports 50,000-60,000 and 72 dead, while Morocco acknowledges 11 fatalities.
The influx
On Thursday, July 30, a massive wave of migrants surged toward Ceuta, a Spanish exclave of about 84,000 residents on Morocco's Mediterranean coast. Morocco's interior ministry estimated that roughly 40,000 people attempted to reach the city, while Spanish authorities put the number at 50,000 to 60,000. An additional 1,135 individuals tried to enter Melilla, Spain's second North African enclave, but were prevented, according to Moroccan figures. Within days, nearly all who had crossed into Ceuta returned to Morocco, Spanish officials said.
Morocco points to TikTok and smugglers
After days of silence, Morocco's interior ministry issued its first official response late Sunday evening, blaming false information on social media, particularly TikTok, for the sudden rush. A spokesman said the movement was spontaneous, not orchestrated.
The influx of migrants was not organized, but came about spontaneously.
He also cited people-smuggling networks and a misinterpretation of a Spanish court ruling that restricts the immediate return of migrants intercepted at sea. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez had earlier pointed to rumors of open borders spread by what he termed the "smuggler mafia." Migrants who spoke to Spiegel and Spanish media confirmed that TikTok videos and messages claiming the border was open were decisive in their choice to attempt the crossing. Several told reporters they were not stopped but rather encouraged to cross. Many of those who made the journey were driven by economic hardship, according to aid workers and officials.
Conflicting death tolls
The two governments have released starkly different fatality figures. Morocco reported 11 deaths, most from drowning. Spain's government representative in Ceuta, Miguel Angel Perez, said on Sunday that at least 72 people had died. Many drowned while trying to swim to Ceuta, and others were crushed as they attempted to scale a breakwater and the border fence. Perez added that more than 1,000 individuals required medical attention. Morocco said it was verifying reports of additional deaths from the Spanish side.
- Morocco: Migrants
- 40000
- Spain: Migrants
- 50000
- Morocco: Deaths
- 11
- Spain: Deaths
- 72
Diplomatic friction and cooperation
The crisis has intensified scrutiny of Morocco's border management. Some migrants' accounts that they were encouraged to cross, rather than stopped, have prompted scrutiny of whether Rabat may have tolerated or even instigated the surge to exert pressure on Spain. Morocco's interior ministry rejected any suggestion of orchestration, stressing that the country remains a committed partner in fighting irregular migration and is cooperating with Spanish authorities. The statement also called for a shared burden in managing migration, stressing the need for European support. The exact trigger for the rush remains under investigation, with authorities examining the role of online disinformation and possible official complicity.
