RABAT: Morocco’s King Mohammed VI reinforced his nation’s strategic partnership with Spain on Friday, emphasizing that this relationship remains unaffected by external pressures or threats in the wake of the recent surge of migrants into Madrid’s North African enclave of Ceuta.
The incident, which occurred on July 30-31, has significantly impacted Spain’s domestic political landscape ahead of the upcoming nationwide elections. Over 70,000 migrants entered Ceuta during the border breach, challenging the Socialist government under Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and providing ammunition to opposition parties critical of immigration policies.
Speaking at the opening of a new parliamentary session, King Mohammed VI addressed “irresponsible statements” and the politicization of the crisis, asserting Morocco’s commitment to maintaining its sovereign partnership with Spain as a voluntary and non-negotiable alliance. The monarch, who used a crutch during the proceedings, noted that while the relationship has achieved notable progress in countering irregular immigration, it now faces “major challenges.”
He announced Morocco’s intention to present a new strategic framework to partners, focused on co-development, economic competitiveness, and regional stability—marking a shift toward a “constructive approach” rather than reactive rhetoric. This follows criticism from Spain’s government regarding Morocco’s border management during the crisis.
Although most migrants were repatriated within hours, thousands remain in Ceuta’s outskirts under precarious conditions, fueling resentment among local residents who accuse Sanchez’s administration of neglect. The conservative opposition leader, Alberto Nunez Feijoo, launched his election campaign in Ceuta, denouncing the government’s handling of the situation as indicative of national “decay, corruption, and lies.”