Morocco strengthens role as key partner in migration management, expert says

Sunday 16 August 2026 - 12:30

By: Sahili Aya

Morocco strengthens role as key partner in migration management, expert says

Morocco is positioning itself as a committed and dependable partner in efforts to manage migration flows and combat irregular migration, according to Jérôme Besnard, a law professor at Paris Cité University.

In comments to Morocco’s state news agency MAP, Besnard said Morocco had for years taken measures aimed at limiting illegal attempts to reach Ceuta, while maintaining cooperation with European partners and deploying substantial human and operational resources.

A long-term approach to migration control

According to Besnard, Morocco’s strategy extends beyond individual security operations. He argued that the effectiveness of the country’s approach should be assessed through its broader system of monitoring, prevention and anticipation rather than through isolated incidents.

Moroccan security services, he said, maintain continuous surveillance of migration movements and seek to identify emerging risks before adjusting their operational response.

Such an approach is particularly important in areas where migration routes can shift quickly in response to security measures, weather conditions or changes in smuggling networks.

The expert described Morocco’s efforts as part of a sustained system designed to respond to changing migration patterns rather than a series of temporary interventions.

Cooperation with European partners

Besnard also highlighted the importance of cooperation between Morocco and its European counterparts.

The management of migration routes linking North Africa and Europe involves multiple countries and institutions, making coordination an essential component of efforts to prevent irregular crossings and disrupt trafficking networks.

Morocco’s geographic position has made it an important partner for European countries seeking to address migration movements toward the continent, particularly along routes leading toward Spain.

For Besnard, effective cooperation requires more than political commitments. It must also involve the practical implementation of agreements and the deployment of resources capable of responding to evolving risks.

A shared responsibility

The French legal expert stressed that Morocco cannot be expected to address irregular migration and human trafficking on its own.

The phenomenon is inherently transnational, involving migrants, trafficking networks and routes that cross several jurisdictions. Consequently, he argued, responsibility must be shared among all relevant stakeholders.

That principle should translate into concrete action, including fulfilment of existing commitments, closer coordination and operational cooperation proportionate to the scale of the challenge.

Managing changing migration flows

The comments come as migration management remains a major issue in relations between Morocco and its European partners.

For countries along the western Mediterranean migration route, the challenge extends beyond border controls. Authorities must also monitor rapidly changing networks, anticipate new routes and coordinate responses across national borders.

Besnard’s assessment places Morocco’s role within that wider framework, portraying the country’s migration policy as a long-term security and cooperation effort rather than a response limited to individual border incidents.

The effectiveness of such a model, however, ultimately depends on sustained cooperation among the countries and institutions involved, particularly as migration routes and trafficking networks continue to evolve.