Morocco has prevented 45,015 people from attempting to illegally migrate to Europe since January 2024 and has dismantled 177 human trafficking gangs, according to the country’s state news agency, MAP, citing interior ministry data.
No comparative figures were provided for the same period in 2023, and the interior ministry did not respond to Reuters’ request for comment. Last year, Morocco halted 75,184 migration attempts to Europe, marking a 6% increase from the previous year, based on government data.
In addition to these efforts, the Moroccan navy has rescued 10,859 migrants at sea so far this year, according to the MAP report.
The interior ministry attributed the ongoing migration pressure to instability in the Sahel region and porous borders, stating, “In 2024, Morocco continues to face increasing migratory pressure as a direct outcome of the prevailing instability in the Sahel region and porous borders.”
Morocco has long been a key departure point for African migrants aiming to reach Europe via the Mediterranean, Atlantic Ocean, or by scaling the fences of the Spanish enclaves Ceuta and Melilla. Cooperation between Morocco and Spain on curbing illegal migration has strengthened since a diplomatic rift was resolved in 2022.
Despite these efforts, hundreds of migrants last month used heavy mist as cover to swim to Ceuta, Spanish police reported. As border controls tighten in northern Morocco, an increasing number of migrants are opting for the longer and more dangerous Atlantic route to the Canary Islands.