152 people have been arrested for inciting irregular migration in Morocco.
In addition, Moroccan security forces thwarted 45,015 migration attempts and dismantled 177 criminal networks involved in human trafficking.
In the government’s first response to the events at Fnideq, Mustapha Baitas, Minister Delegate for Relations with Parliament and Government Spokesman, reported that 152 people had been prosecuted for incitement to illegal migration.
Speaking at a press conference after the weekly cabinet meeting, Mr. Baitas expressed the government’s regret over the recent events in Fnideq, noting that while illegal immigration is a widespread problem, the recent crisis had particularly affected hundreds of young people who had been misled and incited by unidentified sources through social media.
In response to journalists’ questions about the events in Fnideq, Baitas said, “Some young people are being incited by unknown entities who are using social networks to mobilize them in favor of irregular migration.”
The government spokesman confirmed that nearly 3,000 people have attempted to migrate irregularly from Fnideq, stressing that “all of these attempts have been successfully thwarted.”
Baitas praised the professionalism and wisdom of the law enforcement agencies, which strictly adhered to legal norms. He emphasised that they “first and foremost ensured the safety of those who attempted to migrate irregularly,” pointing out that “no deaths were recorded among them.”
In this context, he noted that the image of suspected half-naked migrants detained in Tetouan, which had sparked a lively debate on social networks, was now being investigated by the competent judicial authorities.
The unfortunate events in Fnideq and the recent increase in illegal immigration have sparked outrage in Morocco, with much criticism directed at the government for allegedly pushing young people to take such risks.
Many members of Moroccan society believe that, given the government’s responsibility to manage living conditions and related issues, it must implement comprehensive strategies to address the root causes of migration.
Improving employment opportunities and promoting local development are among the measures essential to preventing citizens from feeling compelled to migrate.
According to the latest report from the High Commission for Planning (HCP), Morocco’s unemployment rate rose to 13.1 percent in the second quarter of 2024, compared to 12.4 percent in the same period of 2023, an increase of 0.7 percentage points.
Since the beginning of the year, Moroccan security forces have foiled 45,015 migration attempts and dismantled 177 criminal networks involved in human trafficking.
RT/ac/sf/lb/as/APA