Spanish Inclusion, Social Security and Migration Minister Elma Saiz, who also serves as government spokesperson, defended cooperation with Morocco during an interview with Cadena SER following a visit to Ceuta.
“Morocco is a neighboring country, a partner and a reliable ally,” Saiz said. “I repeat what the ministers of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, and Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, have said on numerous occasions. Morocco is neither a threat to Ceuta nor to Spain.”
Saiz said Morocco’s cooperation had been essential in managing the recent situation, pushing back against narratives seeking to blame Rabat for the migration pressure on the city.
Her comments come amid political tensions in Spain over the handling of the situation. Ceuta government president Juan Jesús Vivas has criticized the central government, accusing it of insufficient action in responding to the humanitarian and logistical pressures facing the city.
Madrid, however, has stressed that managing migration requires shared responsibility and continued cooperation with Morocco.
Morocco’s security deployment
Saiz’s remarks follow an extensive Moroccan security operation around Fnideq, the northern coastal city bordering Ceuta, after calls circulated online for a mass crossing attempt on Saturday, Aug. 15.
Moroccan authorities substantially reinforced security around Fnideq, Belyounech and the Bab Sebta crossing in the days leading up to the planned attempt.
The operation combined extensive ground patrols with aerial surveillance by a Royal Gendarmerie helicopter. Security units also conducted sweeps through forested areas surrounding Belyounech to prevent groups from reaching the border barrier.
Read also : Morocco conducts helicopter sweeps near Ceuta as more than 350 would-be migrants are stopped
By mid-afternoon on Aug. 15, security operations had resulted in the apprehension of nearly 300 would-be irregular migrants, the vast majority from sub-Saharan African countries alongside several dozen Moroccan nationals.
The deployment prevented any collective crossing into Ceuta, while authorities maintained heightened surveillance throughout the area.
More than 4,000 Moroccan would-be migrants have meanwhile left Ceuta and returned to their cities and regions of origin in recent days, an informed source told Le360.
Spain prepares 1,500 additional reception places
On the Spanish side, authorities are moving to ease pressure on Ceuta’s reception infrastructure following the arrivals recorded in late July.
The Spanish government is preparing four additional emergency reception sites designed to provide an initial capacity of 1,500 places. That capacity could be expanded depending on how the situation develops.
Authorities have yet to establish definitive figures for the number of adults and minors remaining in the city. In the meantime, emergency and civil protection services are distributing nearly 4,000 food kits each day.
Madrid has also formally requested emergency financial assistance from the European Union through the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund.
The funding would help cover measures introduced in Ceuta, including assistance for vulnerable people and support for temporary reception facilities.
