Spain's Foreign Minister attributes Ceuta migration surge to social media

Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares has clarified that Morocco played no role in the mass migration surge toward Ceuta in late July. Albares stated that the crisis was primarily driven by the rapid spread of misinformation on social media platforms, specifically regarding a Spanish Supreme Court decision from July 8 that created a false perception of border accessibility.

Albares noted that he maintained direct communication with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita during the incident. Bourita reportedly denied any Moroccan involvement and confirmed that Morocco mobilized resources immediately to help control the situation.

Separately, Albares addressed diplomatic tensions regarding the status of Ceuta and Melilla. He described statements made by certain Moroccan ministers concerning these cities as ‘completely unacceptable’ and a threat to bilateral relations. He noted that Bourita had characterized those specific remarks as being made within an electoral context rather than representing official Moroccan policy, though Albares maintained that such rhetoric remains problematic for Spanish-Moroccan relations.