Ceuta: 27 exchanges in one day between Nasser Bourita and Spain’s foreign minister

Contacts between the Moroccan and Spanish foreign ministers reached exceptional intensity during the Ceuta crisis. José Manuel Albares and Nasser Bourita spoke and exchanged messages almost daily, reports El País.

On one of those days, the two ministers communicated as many as 27 times. The Spanish newspaper does not specify the exact date or the breakdown between phone calls and messages.

During these exchanges, Nasser Bourita reportedly firmly assured his counterpart that Morocco was not responsible for the mass arrival of migrants in Ceuta on 30 and 31 July.

On Bladi.net : Ceuta: Madrid wanted Felipe VI to call Mohammed VI, then backed down

These direct contacts show that Rabat and Madrid favored the ministerial channel. The Spanish government had simultaneously considered asking Felipe VI to call Mohammed VI, before ultimately abandoning the initiative.

Madrid rules out a warning from Morocco

According to information gathered by El País from the Spanish government, Madrid does not believe that Morocco wanted to send a political message to Spain. This assessment clearly distinguishes the current crisis from that of 2021.

At the time, Spain’s reception of Brahim Ghali, leader of the Polisario Front, had triggered a serious diplomatic crisis. Moroccan ambassador Karima Benyaich had then publicly warned that Spain’s actions would have consequences. No equally explicit signal has been detected this time.

The Spanish government instead favors the hypothesis of a movement fueled by smuggling networks and amplified on social media. Messages were reportedly circulated from several countries, and not only from Morocco. Madrid acknowledges, however, that it still does not have a definitive explanation.

Seven ministers are due to present to Congress the information gathered by their administrations. These hearings are taking place as Pedro Sánchez has also placed the Ceuta crisis before the Spanish National Security Council, in the presence of the officials responsible for Defense, the Interior, intelligence and the armed forces.

On Bladi.net : Is Morocco a reliable partner? Spain contradicts itself amid the Ceuta crisis

Another disagreement remains over the return of the people still present in Ceuta. Procedures concerning minors and asylum seekers are slowing expulsions, while Morocco does not wish to take back indiscriminately everyone who arrived in the city.