Rabat, August 12, 2026 — The Europe Today: Morocco has stepped up security measures along its northern border amid a social media campaign calling for a new mass crossing into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta on August 15, according to reports.
Moroccan police and gendarmerie forces have reinforced checkpoints at the entrances to several towns, including Fnideq, also known as Castillejos, as authorities monitor online calls encouraging people to attempt an irregular crossing.
Spain has also increased security measures in Ceuta. According to reports, Spanish authorities have ordered the suspension of leave for military personnel and security agents assigned to the city from August 13 until further notice, except in exceptional circumstances.
The measures follow a large-scale irregular migration incident on July 30, when tens of thousands of people reportedly attempted to reach Ceuta by swimming. Morocco and Spain subsequently agreed on measures that resulted in most of those who entered being returned to Morocco and reaffirmed their cooperation in addressing irregular migration.
Authorities on both sides are closely monitoring social media posts and videos circulating on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok that encourage people to travel to Ceuta on August 15. Some of the posts have attracted significant numbers of views and interactions.
According to police sources cited in the reports, security agencies have been monitoring the online campaign for several days and are assessing its credibility and potential impact. Authorities have also raised questions over the origins of some of the messages and whether engagement figures associated with them may have been manipulated.
Spanish authorities are also cooperating with major social media platforms, including Meta and TikTok, as part of efforts to limit the spread of false or misleading information that could encourage migrants to undertake dangerous crossings.
The heightened security measures reflect continued coordination between Morocco and Spain as both countries seek to prevent irregular migration and maintain security around the strategically sensitive Ceuta border.
The developments come amid broader efforts by the two countries to strengthen cooperation on migration management and prevent dangerous attempts to enter the Spanish enclave.
