Lead

Morocco's interior ministry on Sunday issued its first official death toll for last week's mass crossing into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, saying 11 people died. The figure is significantly lower than the death toll reported by Spain, which says at least 72 people died.

Tens of thousands of would-be migrants crossed into the territory between Wednesday and Friday, sparking a diplomatic row within the European Union as some member states criticised Spain's migration policies.

Coverage comparison

Morocco's interior ministry reported that 11 people died in the attempt to reach Ceuta, with 10 drowning and one falling from a rocky area, according to ministry spokesman Rachid El Khalfi. Spain's government said it had recovered 72 bodies, up from the 67 it had previously reported, as carried by ABC Australia.

Morocco's death toll may be limited to deaths that occurred on the Moroccan side of the border, with the ministry saying it was checking reports of further deaths across the border.

The Moroccan Association for Human Rights (AMDH) said there were "nearly 130 victims" with dozens more missing, as reported by Africa News and France 24 – English.

Key claims

  • Morocco's interior ministry said 40,000 attempts were made to cross into Ceuta illegally, and 1,135 people were stopped from entering the Spanish territory of Melilla further east.
  • Spain says more than 60,000 people managed to enter Ceuta in recent days, although most have now returned to Morocco.
  • The ministry blamed the surge on the "malicious exploitation" of social media and the "spread of misleading information," as well as "misinterpretations of legal provisions" – a reference to a July 8 Spanish Supreme Court ruling that migrants arriving by sea should not be returned as quickly as others.
  • Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska blamed people-smuggling networks for exploiting migrants by spreading misleading interpretations of the same court ruling, which said migrants intercepted at sea could not be summarily returned in the absence of a physical barrier.
  • Morocco's interior ministry said prosecutors had opened an official investigation into what happened.
  • Italy suspended passport-free Schengen travel arrangements with Spain for a month, prompting criticism from Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who had already confirmed that those who entered Ceuta irregularly would not be allowed to stay.

Perspectives

Moroccan government

Morocco's interior ministry says 11 people died, blames the surge on social media misinformation and human trafficking, and notes that it is working with Spain to verify figures and identify bodies found on Spanish territory.

Spanish government

Spain reports at least 72 deaths and attributes the crisis to people-smuggling networks exploiting migrants through misleading interpretations of a court ruling; Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska defended Morocco as "a fully reliable partner."

Moroccan Association for Human Rights

The AMDH reports a significantly higher toll of "nearly 130 victims" with dozens more missing, suggesting the official death counts may be understated.