Various European intelligence agencies are studying the hypothesis that certain networks were behind convincing young Moroccans to migrate to occupied Ceuta in large numbers on July 30, in an operation that appears to be a new pattern of cyber warfare, while ruling out any Russian role so far following reports that spoke of electronic accounts linked to Moscow.
Spanish authorities operate on the premise that mafia networks are behind the mobilization of young people and their incitement to migrate to Ceuta. Meanwhile, media sources close to the Moroccan state accuse Algerian intelligence, while some Spanish media outlets suggest a possible Moroccan role in the operation, citing the mass incursion in mid-May 2021, which occurred due to Spain's opposition at the time to then-US President Donald Trump's position supporting Moroccan autonomy and sovereignty over the Sahara. Spanish intelligence has not accused Morocco, except for its observation that Moroccan authorities were lenient towards the incident.
This operation is particularly serious on two levels. First, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez considers the storming of Ceuta by some 72,000 people, mostly Moroccans, an attack on Spain. Second, the heavy toll of victims is significant, with over 140 drowned and dozens still missing.
The Spanish newspaper La Razón reported a few days ago that European countries are investigating how unknown entities, possibly mafia networks or intelligence agencies, managed to mobilize tens of thousands of people to storm Ceuta. The investigation has extended to demanding that TikTok and Meta, the parent company of Facebook, provide information on the matter.
In practice, various European intelligence agencies are giving this issue considerable attention, considering it a form of cyber warfare, albeit unconventional. This time, it's not about targeting the operating systems of facilities or infrastructure, or interfering to influence election results, but rather about using cyberspace to mobilize a massive human wave with the aim of creating chaos at borders. Several agencies are wondering what would happen if migrants coordinated an incursion from multiple points across Europe, whether via migrant boats from the southern Mediterranean or through points in Eastern Europe.
The European Union typically accuses Russia of resorting to cyber warfare to target hospital systems, election verification systems, or other vital sectors such as air traffic. However, the Spanish newspaper El País highlighted in its Tuesday edition that the Russian hypothesis is being dismissed by Europeans, both in terms of Russia's involvement in the operation and the mobilization of tens of thousands of Moroccans towards Ceuta.
The newspaper points out that to understand what happened in the mass incursion, one must return to the code phrase, “Ceuta’s gate is open.” This meant not crossing by sea into the occupied city, but rather heading only towards the end of the fence, where it meets the beach, from where one could cross into Ceuta. Between July 22 and 29, 1,500 migrants entered Ceuta by sea, resulting in the drowning of nine people, while the mass incursion took place on July 30.
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