Morocco has expressed its readiness to collaborate on the repatriation of unaccompanied minors who remained in Ceuta following the significant influx of migrants in late July. Rabat, however, notes that the current procedures are hampered by legal and administrative constraints within Spain.
Rabat urges cooperation with Madrid
Morocco has declared its willingness to participate in identifying unaccompanied minors currently present in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta to facilitate their return. According to a Moroccan diplomatic source, the kingdom intends to work closely with Spanish authorities and European partners to carry out this operation. Rabat maintains, however, that the primary hurdle lies in Spain’s administrative and judicial processes, which currently prevent the immediate return of these children.
Over a thousand minors remain in Ceuta
After approximately 72,000 migrants irregularly entered Ceuta over a few days in late July, Spanish authorities reported that nearly 70,000 individuals have since returned to Morocco. Data from Ceuta’s administration indicates that around 2,000 migrants are still within the enclave, with more than 1,000 of them being unaccompanied minors. Various child rights organizations have raised serious concerns about the potential risks of exploitation, trafficking, and abuse these vulnerable young people could face.
A heavy human toll
The migration crisis has also resulted in a tragic loss of life. A Spanish commission of forensic specialists determined that at least 80 people perished, primarily due to drowning. Moroccan authorities, for their part, have reported 11 fatalities on their side of the border.
