Morocco's interior ministry has released its first official casualty count following the recent surge of migrants attempting to reach the Spanish North African enclave of Ceuta last week. According to ministry spokesman Rachid El Khalfi, 11 individuals lost their lives during the attempt, with 10 drowning and one person falling from a rocky area.
This figure stands in sharp contrast to estimates provided by Spain, which has reported at least 72 deaths. The Moroccan government stated that it is currently coordinating with Spanish authorities to verify the total number of fatalities and to facilitate the identification of bodies recovered on Spanish territory. An official inquiry into the events has been launched by prosecutors.
The surge, which saw tens of thousands of individuals cross into the territory between Wednesday and Friday, has sparked significant diplomatic friction within the European Union. Several member states have openly criticized Spain for its perceived lack of decisive action and its approach to migration policies. While Spain claims that over 60,000 people successfully entered Ceuta during this period, it notes that the majority have since returned to Morocco.
In response to the crisis, the Moroccan interior ministry attributed the mass movement to the "malicious exploitation" of social media and the dissemination of misleading information. Furthermore, officials pointed to "misinterpretations of legal provisions," specifically referencing a July 8 Spanish Supreme Court ruling that suggested migrants arriving by sea should not be subjected to the same rapid return processes as other groups.
The ministry confirmed that approximately 40,000 attempts were made to enter Ceuta unlawfully. Additionally, 1,135 people attempted to enter the Spanish enclave of Melilla, located further to the east, but were promptly returned to Moroccan soil. Meanwhile, the Moroccan Association for Human Rights (AMDH) has offered a different perspective, noting that there were "nearly 130 victims" alongside dozens of individuals who currently remain missing.
