Madrid (AFP) - Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez confirmed Thursday that there was no "conclusive evidence" that Morocco planned or orchestrated the influx of migrants to Ceuta in July, following a Spanish police report that pointed to several failures on the part of Moroccan security forces.

Published on: 09/03/2026 - 12:53 Last updated: 09/04/2026 - 00:06

But the Socialist Prime Minister strongly criticized the Moroccan government's "unacceptable" statements regarding Ceuta since the beginning of the crisis, in a rare public criticism of Rabat, which claims sovereignty over the North African enclave.

Later Thursday, US President Donald Trump renewed his criticism of Spain over this issue, saying that migrants who cross its borders will "flow" into the rest of Europe.

Trump added in an interview with British television channel GB News, "What happened with Spain is infuriating."

He continued, "When I look at it, it's a sad thing. This will lead to the ruination of the entire country, the ruination of the system..."

He added, "It will destroy Europe because once they reach Spain, they will not stop in Spain."

He added, "They will flow into your country and every other country... but they have begun to flow into your country."

More than 70,000 migrants crossed from Morocco to Ceuta on July 30 and 31 in an unprecedented wave that killed dozens, most of whom drowned while trying to swim around a breakwater.

The leftist government has always avoided holding Morocco responsible, while it spent years trying to improve its historically complex relations with it, especially regarding the status of Ceuta and Melilla.

However, a Spanish police report seen by Agence France-Presse on Wednesday indicated “complete laxity” in the Moroccan police response, which facilitated the flow of migrants, with some officers directing them towards the water.

The report, which was based on satellite images, publicly available videos and migrants' testimonies, said that police numbers around the border crossing were "much lower than usual" and that officers "did not make any serious attempt" to control the crowds.

In a speech he delivered before Parliament on Thursday to provide clarifications about the crisis, Sanchez said that his government had not received from any agency or any international body “conclusive evidence that Morocco planned or arranged the incident.”

He added, "If this conclusive evidence had existed, we would have acted accordingly," stressing that "this government is not afraid to confront other foreign powers."

"Unacceptable" statements

Sanchez strongly criticized what he considered "unacceptable" statements made by two Moroccan ministers regarding Ceuta and Melilla, and revealed that Spain had summoned the Moroccan ambassador on August 21.

Moroccan media quoted Justice Minister Abdellatif Wehbe in August as saying that Rabat has “historical” and “geographical” rights over Ceuta and Melilla, calling for a “final solution” that allows the two regions to “return to the embrace of the motherland.”

Sanchez confirmed before Parliament on Thursday that Ceuta and Melilla, which share the European Union's only land borders with Africa, will remain Spanish "forever."

Although most of the migrants who flocked to Ceuta have returned to Morocco, thousands are still wandering the streets of the small city and sleeping in the open, raising tensions with local residents who feel abandoned.

Tens of thousands of people demonstrated in Ceuta and Spanish cities on Wednesday to protest the leftist government's response to the crisis, and the conservative and far-right opposition took advantage of these demonstrations to attack Sanchez.

The opposition has long questioned Morocco's role and accused Sanchez of subservience to Rabat.

Morocco claims sovereignty over the two enclaves, while some analysts suggested that it had used the influx of migrants to exert political pressure on Spain, after Sanchez's visit in July to Algeria, Rabat's historical rival.

The disputed Western Sahara is a source of tension, as Morocco controls most of the territory of the former Spanish colony, which is claimed by the Polisario Front, which is supported by Algeria and seeks its independence.

But in 2002, Spain retreated from its neutral policy and supported Rabat's plan to grant autonomy to this region, which angered Algeria.

Sanchez also revealed, in rare comments about royal affairs, that the government has invited King Felipe to visit Ceuta and Melilla "in the coming weeks."

This visit may raise tensions with Morocco, after the last visit by a Spanish king to the two cities in 2007 caused a diplomatic crisis.

"Ceuta needs state support more than ever," Sanchez said.

© 2026 AFP

The content you want to browse is no longer in service or is currently unavailable.