Ceuta and Melilla are once again at the centre of attention after new calls for mobilisation began circulating on Moroccan social networks. Several messages are promoting a “popular march” on Sunday 20 September, with those behind the campaign demanding the “liberation” of the two enclaves and other territories under Spanish sovereignty.
Spanish security services are closely monitoring this online campaign. For now, no large-scale mobilisation at the border has been confirmed.
Ceuta and Melilla at the heart of a social media campaign
Posters and messages in Arabic have been circulating since the beginning of September, shared across several social networks and messaging apps.
These posts call for a mobilisation on 20 September, focusing on Ceuta, Melilla and several small islets under Spanish control.
Some messages refer to a “march of anger”, while others use the phrase “march of national ire”.
Several publications also mention a gathering in Rabat, with a possible march towards the Embassy of Spain.
The campaign has been relayed by various Moroccan accounts. Journalist and influencer Mustapha El Asri is among those cited as having shared the calls.
A mobilisation with no clearly identified organiser
One crucial point remains: no official organiser has been clearly identified.
The posters shared online also provide no reliable information about the exact meeting point. The route and any formal authorisation for the march are likewise unknown.
Disinformation experts therefore urge caution. A highly visible campaign on social media does not necessarily mean that a mobilisation will actually take place on the ground.
Nothing available at this stage allows this initiative to be linked to the Moroccan government.
Spanish services monitoring the situation
Spanish authorities are nevertheless taking these calls seriously.
According to several Spanish media outlets, the National Police and the Guardia Civil are monitoring the campaign, while Spanish intelligence services are also tracking how it develops.
Spain’s military intelligence service, CIFAS, is likewise cited among the agencies involved in this monitoring effort.
Authorities are seeking to gauge the real impact of these calls and to determine whether the movement will remain limited to social networks.
They are also watching for any risk of a physical mobilisation around the border.
This vigilance comes in an already sensitive context around Ceuta.
A planned mobilisation three days before elections
The choice of 20 September is also attracting attention.
Moroccan voters are due to go to the polls for legislative elections on 23 September, meaning that the announced mobilisation would take place just three days before the ballot.
This proximity is fuelling questions about the broader political and information context.
However, it does not provide evidence of any direct link between the online calls and the Moroccan authorities.
Observers stress the importance of distinguishing verified facts from speculation circulating on social networks.
Remembering the late July events in Ceuta
This new alert comes just a few weeks after the events at the end of July.
According to several Spanish media, more than 70,000 people gathered in the border area of Ceuta on 30 and 31 July.
At that time, social networks played a major role in amplifying calls to head towards the border.
Spanish services are therefore paying particular attention to new campaigns that could trigger mass movements.
The current situation, however, is different.
For 20 September, messages do call for mobilisation, but there has been no official announcement of any new large-scale attempt to cross the border.
Ceuta and Melilla: caution still prevails
For the time being, Spanish authorities remain on alert.
The announcement of a “march” on social networks is not enough to predict whether it will take place or how large it might be.
Security services continue to analyse the online posts, seeking to track how the campaign evolves and its potential impact on the ground.
As a result, 20 September is being closely watched. There is still no evidence to suggest that an assault on the border will occur.
The issue of Ceuta and Melilla remains particularly sensitive in relations between Morocco and Spain.
In the coming days, it will become clearer whether this mobilisation remains virtual or leads to an actual gathering.
External sources:
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