Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said in an interview with CNN on Monday, September 22, that Morocco's border control failures contributed to the recent mass migration surge into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. Speaking from New York, Sánchez stated, "We are investigating what happened," marking the first time he has publicly linked Morocco to the crisis.
Ceuta, a Spanish territory on the North African coast, has experienced a significant increase in migrant arrivals in recent weeks. The Spanish government has not released official figures, but local authorities report hundreds of arrivals, straining local resources.
Sánchez's comments come amid heightened tensions between Spain and Morocco over migration management. The two countries have cooperated on border control in the past, but recent events have tested that relationship. Morocco has not yet responded to Sánchez's remarks.
The Spanish government has deployed additional security forces to Ceuta and is working with European Union partners to address the situation. The EU has called for dialogue between Spain and Morocco to resolve the issue.
