Key facts
- Morocco's King Mohammed VI stated that the current migration cooperation model with Spain has reached its limits.
- The king cited "obsolete" and "unrealistic" Spanish court decisions as hindering cooperation.
- Morocco rejected accusations of facilitating migration into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta.
- Morocco will propose a new vision for partnership focused on development, competitiveness, and stability.
- Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri was appointed as Morocco's first female prime minister.
King Mohammed VI said on Friday that Morocco's efforts to curb irregular migration have yielded concrete results, but that the current cooperation model with Spain has reached its limits amid recurring crises. The monarch cited "obsolete" and "unrealistic" Spanish court decisions that he claimed were impeding the repatriation of minors and "fake asylum seekers," thereby fueling criminal networks.
Speaking at the opening of parliament, the king's remarks followed a July incident where at least 70,000 people crossed from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. While most have since returned, thousands, including minors, remained. Spanish opposition parties had blamed Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's government for the crisis, accusing Rabat of facilitating the crossing. Morocco rejected these accusations, attributing the surge to social media and misinterpretations of a court ruling.