Morocco blames social media as tens of thousands storm European border

Morocco has rejected accusations that it facilitated a mass migration surge towards the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, instead pointing the finger at misleading information spreading across social media platforms. Tens of thousands of migrants, predominantly from sub-Saharan Africa, attempted to cross into the Spanish territory in recent days, with the majority subsequently returned by Moroccan and Spanish authorities. The North African country’s government claims that false reports circulating online about border conditions and entry opportunities triggered the sudden influx of people.

The incident has sparked a major diplomatic row between Morocco and Spain, with both nations accusing each other of mishandling the situation. Spanish officials have suggested that Morocco deliberately relaxed border controls or failed to prevent the attempted crossings, while Moroccan authorities have countered that they acted swiftly to manage the crisis and return migrants to their point of departure. The disagreement reflects broader tensions between the two countries over migration policy and border security in the Mediterranean region.

While most of those who attempted the crossing have been apprehended and returned, the dispute over the true scale of the incident continues to intensify. Official figures differ significantly between Moroccan and Spanish sources, with each side presenting conflicting data about the numbers involved. The controversy has highlighted the role of misinformation in fuelling migration attempts, as traffickers and others exploit social media to advertise false narratives about border accessibility and opportunities in Europe.

Source: Maariv — Original article in Hebrew.