Spain Expands Migrant Repatriation Flights to Morocco Amid Rising Arrivals

Two repatriation flights of migrants to Casablanca and Agadir from the Canary Islands will be operated in addition to the flight to Laâyoune, government sources told El Diario. Spain thus intends to "significantly increase" the number of migrants repatriated to Morocco. Before the crisis between the two countries, about 80 migrants were repatriated each week to Laâyoune.

To read: Spain Resumes Repatriation Flights for Moroccan Migrants from Canary Islands

Migration pressure towards Spain has increased in recent months, before experiencing a significant decline last month, after Pedro Sanchez’s decision to support the Moroccan autonomy plan for the Sahara, putting an end to a crisis that had become "unsustainable" for Spain. In 2021, 40% of migrants arriving on the Spanish coast came from Morocco, 30% from Algeria and the remaining 30% from sub-Saharan countries, according to Spanish police data.

To read: Spain Reports Sharp Drop in Migration After Shift on Western Sahara Policy

In March, migration flows to Spain decreased by 55.4% compared to February and by 66.9% compared to January, according to data from the Ministry of the Interior. In detail, 4,202 migrants arrived in January, compared to 3,117 in February and 1,388 in March. This drop in migration flows was mainly noted in the Canary Islands where 3,100 migrants were registered in January, 2,302 in February and only 431 in March.

Morocco is the second country to receive the most aid from Europe to ensure better border management. According to the European Commission, by the end of May 2021, 346 million euros had been granted to the kingdom as part of various programs related to migration cooperation.