Algeria’s Press Agency APS Algerie launched a smear campaign targeting Morocco, spreading fake pictures depicting a mass exodus of citizens towards Spain’s two enclaves Sebta and Melilla.
In the wake of an online campaign calling for a large-scale migration attempt on September 15, Moroccan authorities significantly boosted security presence in Northern cities to secure its borders with Spain.
APS Algerie used the incident to launch a smear campaign using outdated images showing hoards of migrants attempting to cross the borders.
In its campaign, Algeria’s press agency accuses Morocco of weaponizing the “desperation” of thousands of young people to “exercise pressure” on Spain.
Des milliers de Marocains tentent de rejoindre Ceuta: le Makhzen se sert du malheur des #jeunes pour faire pression sur l'#Espagne
🔗https://t.co/G98HQheVYT pic.twitter.com/MXvH9YEpLJ— ALGÉRIE PRESSE SERVICE | وكالة الأنباء الجزائرية (@APS_Algerie) September 16, 2024
The news comes at a time when Morocco’s relations with Spain are reaching new heights following Spain’s historical recognition of the Moroccaness of the Sahara in 2022.
Algeria has long opposed Spain’s endorsement of Morocco in the Sahara dossier and continued to support the separatist armed militia called Polisario.
On Sunday, Moroccan forces thwarted a mass attempt from migrants to breach the border fence with the Spanish enclave of Sebta on Sunday.
Earlier the same week, Moroccan authorities significantly boosted their presence in Fnideq.
Meanwhile, Spanish newspaper “El País” reported that the Spanish Civil Guard also deployed a significant number of riot-equipped officers along Sebta’s side of the border. The situation was brought under control shortly after noon.
Moroccan authorities confirmed that in August alone, security forces prevented 14,648 irregular migrants from attempting to breach Sebta and Melilla or from swimming along the coast, representing nearly a third of all thwarted attempts this year.