Kathmandu— Morocco’s Interior Ministry announced Wednesday it has increased security along its borders with the Spanish exclaves of Ceuta and Melilla in response to a renewed social media campaign encouraging mass, irregular crossings. The move comes after approximately 72,000 people crossed into Ceuta from Morocco in late July, triggering a crisis that resulted in numerous deaths and legal repercussions for those involved in facilitating the movement. Authorities are now taking steps to counter online incitement and intercept potential migrants.

Social Media Fuels New Crossing Attempts

Moroccan authorities detected publications and messages circulating on social media platforms over the past week, inciting collective illegal crossing attempts towards Ceuta. The posts falsely claim that the border between Fnideq in Morocco and Ceuta will be open on August 15th, a public holiday in Spain. Rachid El Khalfi, a spokesman for the Moroccan Interior Ministry, stated that “all the necessary measures were taken to counter all attempts at illegal passage and intercept every person seeking to participate.”

Legal Consequences for Facilitators

In response to the late July surge, Morocco has already begun taking legal action against those believed to be involved in facilitating irregular migration. On August 7th, seven Moroccan taxi drivers were sentenced to up to six months in prison and fined approximately $1,070 each for transporting people to the border. The national taxi union criticized these sentences as harsh and unexpected, noting that no official restrictions on passenger transport had been issued.

Ongoing Return of Migrants and Concerns for Minors

While the vast majority of those who crossed into Ceuta in late July have since been returned to Morocco by Spanish and local forces, approximately 2,000 people remain in the territory. Around 1,000 of these are minors who cannot be deported under Spanish law. The Moroccan Interior Ministry has urged Spanish authorities to expedite the return of these children.

Disputed Death Toll

The recent crisis resulted in a significant loss of life, with differing estimates of the total number of deaths. Moroccan authorities recovered the bodies of 11 people, while Spain reported at least 80 fatalities. The Moroccan Association for Human Rights, a non-governmental organization, has estimated the death toll to be as high as 141.

Moroccan and Spanish authorities continue to coordinate efforts to manage the situation in Ceuta and prevent future surges of irregular migration, with a particular focus on addressing the needs of unaccompanied minors.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.