The Armed Forces Intelligence Center (CIFAS) alerted in real time about the possible participation of Morocco in the avalanche on July 30 in Ceuta. It did not do so afterwards, like the National Immigration and Borders Center, but at 1:00 p.m. on the day of the assault, two hours after the El Tarajal border was overwhelmed. It warned of the “passivity” of the Moroccan agents and the “negligent and passive” behavior of the “authorities” of that country.
This is certified by the ‘Intrep’ report from Military Intelligence, urgently prepared during the assault and declassified this Wednesday by the Government. The document states that “the reports about the attitude of the Moroccan Forces and security bodies towards the attempts to access Spain” show a clear contrast: while in Melilla “an active Moroccan attitude in maintaining security” is reported, in Ceuta what is observed is “passivity in the face of the migratory avalanche, which allows the border to be breached both by sea and by land.”
While the Moroccan Embassy in Spain defended “total collaboration with the Spanish Government,” the document continues, “it cannot be ruled out that there is a certain level of discontent in the Majzén related to the visit of the Prime Minister to Algeria,” nor “can it be ruled out that Morocco tries to exploit the situation generated in Ceuta to benefit its strategic interests.”
That is, from the very first moment, CIFAS not only noted the neighbor country’s culpable “passivity,” but that the avalanche was convenient for Morocco.
However, this same week the Government continues to defend that there is no reason to think of active or passive participation of Morocco in the avalanche. On Monday, the Interior Minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, stated: “To this day there is no element supported by minimally logical, reasonable, and objective facts of any intervention by Morocco.”
In his appearance last week in Congress, Pedro Sánchez of the Government has assured today that “I do not exonerate anyone.” Furthermore, when detailing the chronology of the assault, Sánchez admitted that during the 10 central hours of the July 30 assault “the Moroccan Gendarmerie allowed the crossing of the border.” “What exactly caused the lack of control during the central hours of Thursday, July 30?” he asked himself, before answering that “it must be determined whether there was incapacity or inaction.”
