Refugee influx to Spain; Madrid summons Moroccan ambassador
The Moroccan ambassador in Madrid was summoned over the mass influx of refugees from Morocco into Spanish territories in North Africa. So far, more than 6,000 people have sought refuge in Ceuta and Melilla. More than 2,700 of them have been returned to Morocco.
24 hours after thousands of refugees arrived in Ceuta, the Spanish Foreign Minister conveyed his protest to the Moroccan government to the country's ambassador in Madrid.
Ms. Arancha Gonzalez Laya told reporters that she had reminded Ms. Karima Ben Aish, the Moroccan ambassador, that the two countries were equally responsible for border control.
More than 6,000 refugees had entered Ceuta by midday on Tuesday, May 18, according to local authorities, with hundreds attempting to cross the border fence into Melilla, 200km from Ceuta. Police said 85 men and one woman managed to enter Melilla.
Ceuta and Melilla are located in North Africa but belong to Spain.
On Tuesday morning, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez refrained from criticizing the Moroccan government, insisting that Rabat is an "ally and friend" of Spain. The socialist politician traveled to Ceuta that afternoon.
A retaliatory action
Before meeting with the Spanish Foreign Minister, the Moroccan ambassador told Europa Press that events occur in relations between countries that have unpleasant consequences.
Observers viewed Ben Aish's remarks as an indirect stance on the hospitalization of the Polisario Front leader in a Spanish hospital. Ibrahim Ghali has been diagnosed with COVID-19.
There had previously been speculation that Morocco had eased controls on its coast in response to Ghali's admission to a Madrid hospital.
Polisario is fighting for the independence of Western Sahara and the creation of a democratic republic in the region, which Morocco seized in 1975. The country's government considers Ghali a war criminal and wants him arrested and tried.
European Union position
On Tuesday afternoon, the European Commission called on Morocco to do more to prevent the migration of refugees to Spanish territories in North Africa.
In Brussels, EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson called on Moroccan authorities to hold themselves accountable for illegal immigration to Europe.
Johansson also called for the expulsion of refugees from Ceuta and Melilla.
According to local authorities, more than 2,700 people who went to Ceuta yesterday have been returned to Morocco.
Source: DW
