The Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, has made a formal statement to parliament, alleging that there is no evidence at all that Morocco had prepared or allowed for a massive breach in the Ceuta enclave in north Africa.
The address came after a police report released on Saturday, which stated that Moroccans’ border guards had “actively” assisted some 70,000 people in crossing the border in late July. While these charges were made, the Government of Spain categorically repudiated being aware of anything beforehand that could have alerted them to the size and likelihood of the break.
Sánchez reiterated his statement to the lawmakers that there has been no solid proof of Moroccan orchestration by the national diplomatic service, European Commission or any other international institution. His response to Rabat’s role in assisting most migrants to return backed by the city’s cooperation was delivered one day after an estimated 50,000 people marched in Madrid against his response to the crisis.
All this protection does not prevent that diplomatic relations are strained. Because of “unacceptable statements” by two Moroccan ministers, the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs decided to call in on August 21 the Moroccan ambassador. The disagreement was reignited recently when Morocco’s justice minister declared its own sovereignty over the two Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla in public.
Government’s response has been harshly criticized by opposition leaders. People’s Party leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo, who belongs to the conservative opposition, asked for Sánchez to step down, alleging incompetence and complicity. As for the “defence of Spain”, meanwhile, far-right Vox party Santiago Abascal said the prime minister was “representing” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Morocco instead of Spain.
A humanitarian crisis has unfolded on the border with an approximate death toll of 141 individuals trying to cross the border. The migrants, 90% of which were returned in under 24 hours, have been stranded in Ceuta, some of them homeless and over 500 of whom are destitute minors at least, on the streets or in makeshift shelters.
Vox leaders demanded mass deportations but Sánchez reminded the assembly of the principles of domestic and international law, which say that migrants have basic rights. Left-wing negotiators also supported the children who were cut off, noting that they were in need of protection and were extremely vulnerable.
With a huge political and humanitarian crisis on his hands, Sánchez called for greater European solidarity. He clearly called on critics such as Italy and Denmark to adopt the same “cooperative” approach for Ceuta as they do for Lampedusa and Greenland. Given the high economic differences that are motivating the migration, Sánchez says his government will also have to do their utmost to ensure that Ceuta is not only stronger after the crisis but also more prosperous and completely integrated with Spain and the EU.
