Morocco says Spain should have foreseen migration meldown

Spanish authorities should have anticipated the consequences of a court ruling that weakened a key deterrent against illegal migration and contributed to last week's mass crossings into the enclave of Ceuta in northern Morocco, a senior Moroccan official said on Monday.



Spain estimates that about 69,500 migrants have returned from Ceuta to Morocco since last week's crossing, while Moroccan authorities say about 40,000 people entered the enclave.



The death toll stands at 72 on the Spanish side of the border and 11 on the Moroccan side.



Ceuta Regional President Juan Jesus Vivas accused Rabat of having "encouraged and permitted" the influx, while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned against any attempt to use irregular migration to pressure an EU member state.



The local authorities in Ceuta should have anticipated the consequences of a ruling that deactivated illegal migration deterrence.



The Spanish ruling on July 8 limited the immediate return of migrants who reach the Spanish enclaves by sea.



Morocco had not relaxed border controls or reduced security deployments before the mass crossing on Thursday.