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PoliticalSpain·31 Aug 2026 · 3h ago

Spanish PM says Morocco not responsible for Ceuta border breach

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Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez stated there was no evidence that the Moroccan government orchestrated the late July border crossing at the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, which involved approximately 70,000 people and resulted in an estimated 141 deaths. Sánchez attributed the incident to criminal gangs spreading disinformation regarding Spanish deportation policies, noting that social media accounts linked to Russia, Israel, and the international far right further exacerbated the situation. While most migrants returned to Morocco, roughly 1,500 people, including 1,200 minors, remained in Ceuta, leading to ongoing public order issues and domestic criticism from the conservative People’s party and the far-right Vox party.

Consequences

Tensions within Ceuta are expected to persist as authorities work to increase accommodation capacity for the remaining 1,500 migrants while managing ongoing clashes with local residents. The government maintains that resolving the situation depends on continued cooperation with Morocco, despite political pressure from opposition parties characterizing the event as a security failure or an act of war.

Sources

The Guardian
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