Migration & Borders
Pedro Sanchez denies Morocco blackmail claims
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez denied allegations on Monday that Morocco was blackmailing him over the mass migrant influx into Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta.
More than 70,000 migrants entered Ceuta from Morocco on July 30 and 31. Most returned to Morocco within hours, but several thousand have remained in Ceuta, where local tensions have grown.
Sanchez has said he has no solid proof that Rabat planned the surge. Allegations taken up by the right-wing Popular Party and its leader Alberto Nuñez Feijoo suggested Sanchez was reluctant to confront Morocco because Rabat might be blackmailing him with information obtained by hacking one of his phones.
Sanchez rejected the claims, saying relations with neighbouring countries had to be based on respect and facts rather than speculation. He said Spain would respond firmly to Morocco if it were proven that Rabat was behind the events of July 30 and 31, but added that there was currently no information that solidly established Morocco's responsibility.
Morocco's foreign ministry previously denied involvement, saying there were no facts proving that Moroccan authorities were behind the migrant rush. The statement came after a Spanish police report accused Moroccan security forces of “total permissiveness” during the crossing.
Spain has also declassified intelligence reports that warned of possible mass entries into Ceuta shortly before the incident. One military intelligence document dated July 30 said it was highly likely Moroccan authorities were not actively encouraging the migration wave, but had acted negligently and passively.
Spanish authorities have been identifying migrants who remained in Ceuta to determine whether they are entitled to asylum. Unaccompanied children cannot be summarily deported. The European Union has said it will grant Spain 115 million euros in emergency aid to strengthen border security and assist returns.
Update
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez denied allegations that Morocco was blackmailing him over the Ceuta migrant crisis.
Sanchez said he had no solid information establishing Morocco's responsibility for the July 30-31 migrant influx.
Sanchez said Spain would respond firmly to Morocco if proof of responsibility emerged.
The allegations had been taken up by the opposition Popular Party and its leader Alberto Nuñez Feijoo.
The situation in Ceuta has deteriorated, with episodes of violence and almost daily demonstrations by local residents.
Source note: AFP news report published on 14 September 2026 at 21:30:21 UTC.
Update
Morocco's foreign ministry said there were no facts or reports proving Moroccan authority involvement in the Ceuta crossings.
Morocco said it refused to be a scapegoat for political score-settling in Spain.
Morocco questioned why Spain was not returning migrants and unaccompanied minors after Rabat said it had agreed to readmit them.
Morocco called the crisis regrettable and said it warranted thorough examination.
The item notes EU emergency aid of 115 million euros for Spain after the crisis.
Source note: AFP news report published on 10 September 2026 at 18:32:57 UTC.
Update
Morocco said it had no involvement in the Ceuta migrant influx.
Source note: AFP news report published on 10 September 2026 at 16:29:28 UTC.
Update
Declassified Spanish intelligence and security reports warned of possible mass migrant entries into Ceuta shortly before the July 30-31 surge.
A National Police border division document cited internal communications in migrant groups trying to organise mass entries on the night of July 29.
An urgent National Intelligence Centre memo on July 29 warned of calls in Facebook groups to enter Ceuta, including one group with more than 160,000 members.
A military intelligence document said it was highly likely Moroccan authorities were not actively encouraging the migration wave but had acted negligently and passively so far.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said the government had no information conveying the magnitude of the crisis or solid evidence that Morocco planned or carried it out.
Popular Party spokeswoman Ester Munoz accused the government of having had the information and being responsible for the crisis.
Source note: AFP news report published on 9 September 2026 at 18:01:39 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
Whether Moroccan authorities planned, encouraged or were responsible for the migrant influx remains disputed.
The blackmail allegations against Morocco are unproven.
The exact number of migrants still in Ceuta is not specified beyond several thousand.
Source
AFP news report published on .