🔶 Morocco says “fake news” was behind the assault on Spain’s Ceuta

In its first official reaction after the widespread assault by refugees on Ceuta (Ceuta), Spain’s autonomous overseas territory in North Africa, the Moroccan government linked the incident, among other things, to “the spread of incorrect information and fake news on the internet.”

A spokesperson for Morocco’s Ministry of the Interior said that the refugee influx was not an organized assault, but rather happened spontaneously. He blamed “the spread of misinformation on social media, the activities of human traffickers, and the misinterpretation of a ruling by a Spanish court that made the return of refugees conditional.”

Given the crisis in this enclave bordering Morocco, speculation has also been raised that the Moroccan government may have deliberately created the mass assault on Ceuta or at least turned a blind eye to it in order to put pressure on Spain.

According to Spanish media, several refugees independently described that not only were they not stopped, but they were even encouraged to cross the border. Many others also reported that they learned about the so-called “open” border via videos and messages on platforms such as TikTok.

The spokesperson for Morocco’s Ministry of the Interior also said that the government of this country is cooperating with Spanish authorities and, in the fight against illegal immigration, continues to adhere to its role as a “reliable partner.”