A sudden wave of migration into Spain’s tiny North African enclave of Ceuta last month is still being examined by authorities, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said, as he condemned what he described as “fake information” pushed by the “ultra-right” in the wake of the crisis.
Over several days in July, at least 70,000 people crossed from Morocco into the Spanish territory, prompting a Europe-wide migrant alert.
Most of those who entered returned to Morocco within hours, but thousands are still in Ceuta, with many sleeping on the streets.
“After July 30 and 31, rumours and disinformation spread on social networks linked to Russia and Israel, and to an ultra-right international that always uses migration to attack both Spain and Europe and divide it,” Mr Sánchez told Cadena Ser radio.
He said it was “evident” the two countries had seized on the situation to criticise Spain’s government, at a time when they are at odds with Madrid over its stance on the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.
Mr Sánchez said he was drawing on research by the European Union’s foreign service EEAS.
At least 70,000 people crossed into Ceuta from Morocco over several days in July
Mr Sánchez also rejected suggestions that Moroccan authorities were responsible for the abrupt surge.
“No intelligence service with which the Spanish government normally cooperates” had suggested “any … involvement in one way or another of the Moroccan authorities”, Mr Sánchez said.
“We must be aware that this crisis can only be resolved through cooperation and not through distrust toward Morocco,” he added, announcing an additional €168 million in aid for Ceuta to help it respond.
Ceuta, which spans just 18 square kilometres and is home to about 80,000 people, has seen repeated demonstrations by residents who say the arrivals have brought security and hygiene problems.
Spain’s government has put the number of migrants still in the enclave at between 3,500 and 7,000, including unaccompanied minors. Ceuta’s leaders, however, claim it is at least 10,000.
Mr Sánchez said that during the influx, misinformation circulated online — including from human trafficking groups — claiming that anyone who reached Ceuta by swimming could not be returned to Morocco. He said that claim is false.
“We are continuing to investigate” what happened, Mr Sánchez said.
