Following the recent events at the border crossings leading to the cities of Sebta and Mellilia, the Ministry of the Interior affirms that various data collected and analyzed unveil that these events are not due to circumstantial or spontaneous factors, but rather the result of several intertwined factors’ interplay, foremost among which the biased exploitation of the digital space, the dissemination of misleading information, the role of human trafficking rings, and misinterpretations of legal and administrative data intended to foster the false belief that the European space could be accessed easily and without legal repercussions.
In a statement to the press Sunday in Rabat, Spokesperson of the Ministry of the Interior Rachid El Khalfi stated that aware of the nature and indicators of these developments, public authorities have, from the outset, implemented a proactive and comprehensive approach based on the early detection of various warning signs, increased vigilance and mobilization, reinforcing operational capabilities of different security services and local authorities, as well as intensifying land and maritime surveillance. All these measures enable the situation to be brought under control, lives to be protected, public order to be maintained, and borders to be secured, in strict compliance with the provisions of the law and the principle of proportionality in interventions.
The precise statistical data available to competent authorities, provided by surveillance and monitoring systems on the ground established at departure points of individuals participating in these attempts at irregular crossings, helped determine the exact number of people involved, El Khalfi added.
The total number amounted to nearly 40,000 people bound for the city of Sebta and nearly 1,135 people bound for the city of Mellilia, where all individuals who managed to reach that city were returned, he said.
The Spokesperson explained that this assessment is based on accurate statistical and field data collected through technical monitoring and tracking mechanisms, making it the gold standard, unlike some reported figures which are not based on reliable data or objective evidence.
In this context, particular attention was drawn to recent decisions by Spanish judicial authorities regarding the possibility of restricting the enforcement of immediate removal measures against some irregular migrants intercepted at sea, he further stated.
These decisions, coupled with the misinterpretations surrounding them, fueled the belief among some individuals that they could evade immediate return. This, in turn, contributed to the emergence of a single mode of irregular migration attempts : crossing by swimming, which some believed offered a greater chance of avoiding immediate return, the official pointed out.
According to El Khalfi, these events have so far resulted in one accidental death following a fall from a rocky area near the city of Sebta, in addition to 10 people dead by drowning.
He indicated that this situation reveals that the short distance (less than 70 meters) and the relatively limited depth (under 2 meters at certain points) created a false sense of ease among some participants, prompting them to underestimate the level of risk and undertake crossing attempts, some of which ended in tragedy.
Regarding reports circulating about other deaths in the city of Sebta, the official pointed out that Moroccan authorities continue, through official channels of cooperation and coordination with their Spanish counterparts, to verify the accuracy of this information, as well as the actual number of individuals involved, their identities, and their nationalities, in order to finalize necessary legal, administrative, and humanitarian measures.
At the same time, El Khalfi affirmed that the return of the individuals concerned has been made possible through cooperation with the Spanish side and in accordance with procedures in force, specifically by opening border crossings for those wishing to return voluntarily, which helped gradually restore normalcy to the region.
Acting within the scope of its legal powers, the competent Public Prosecutor’s office has initiated criminal investigations into different acts and facts related to these events, with a view to ascertaining all the circumstances, establishing responsibility, and drawing the appropriate legal conclusions, in accordance with the provisions of the law, he added.
While reaffirming that the migration phenomenon can only be managed through a comprehensive approach based on shared responsibility, efficient solidarity, and burden-sharing, the Ministry of the Interior emphasizes that the Kingdom of Morocco will remain, as it has consistently been with its partners, a reliable and responsible partner, firmly committed to reinforcing international cooperation and coordination in the fight against irregular migration and human trafficking, he maintained.
Similarly, the Kingdom of Morocco will spare no effort in taking all necessary measures to safeguard public order, protect border security, and ensure the safety of people and property, while respecting the rule of law and the Kingdom’s national and international commitments, he further added.