Morocco has tightened border controls near the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla following reports of a planned mass crossing attempt.
Key facts
- •Morocco’s interior ministry confirmed it has tightened security to prevent illegal crossings into Spanish enclaves.
- •Social media reports indicate a potential mass crossing attempt at the Ceuta border scheduled for Saturday.
- •Spanish officials are concerned that Morocco is using US support to challenge Spain's sovereignty over Ceuta and Melilla.
- •Morocco signed a $210,000, six-month contract with the PR firm Qorvis to improve its image in the United States.
Morocco’s interior ministry announced on Wednesday, August 12, that it has implemented security measures to prevent illegal border crossings into the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla. The move follows social media reports suggesting a potential mass crossing attempt could occur this Saturday. Officials in Madrid have expressed concerns that Morocco may be leveraging its strengthened ties with the United States to challenge Spain's sovereignty over the North African territories.
By the numbers
Border security and social media reports
The Moroccan interior ministry stated that it has taken all necessary measures to counter any illegal crossing attempts. The government described the current security posture as part of a system of continuous vigilance, specifically targeting areas near the Ceuta and Melilla crossings.
Diplomatic ties and communications strategy
Morocco has engaged Qorvis, a Washington DC-based public relations firm, for a six-month communications campaign. The contract, valued at $210,000, is intended to foster a stronger relationship between Morocco and the United States.
Advertisement
This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by EUobserver.
