The Moroccan interior ministry has released its initial death toll regarding the recent migration crisis at the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, confirming 11 fatalities. This official figure stands in sharp contrast to the count provided by Spain, which has estimated that at least 72 people lost their lives during the events that took place between last Wednesday and Friday.
Rachid El Khalfi, a spokesperson for the Moroccan interior ministry, detailed that 10 of the victims drowned, while an eleventh individual died after falling from a rocky area. The ministry stated that it is currently coordinating with Spanish authorities to verify these figures and facilitate the identification of bodies recovered on Spanish territory. Furthermore, Moroccan officials have launched an official inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the surge.
The ministry attributed the massive influx of people to the "malicious exploitation" of social media and the spread of misleading information. Additionally, officials pointed to "misinterpretations of legal provisions," specifically referencing a July 8 ruling by the Spanish Supreme Court that suggested migrants arriving by sea should not be returned as quickly as other arrivals. According to the ministry, there were approximately 40,000 attempts to enter Ceuta unlawfully. In a separate incident, 1,135 individuals attempted to enter the Spanish enclave of Melilla to the east, though they were quickly returned to Morocco.
Spanish authorities have indicated that more than 60,000 people successfully entered Ceuta during the period, although the majority have since returned to Morocco. The situation has caused diplomatic friction within the European Union, with several member states criticizing Spain's handling of the crisis and its migration policies. Meanwhile, the Moroccan Association for Human Rights (AMDH) has challenged the official government count, asserting that there were "nearly 130 victims" and that dozens of other individuals remain missing.
