Morocco Immediate Economic Problem Of Escaping Population

 Nadene Goldfoot                                              

Migrants rest outside the Temporary Center for Immigrants (CETI) after crossing from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, Friday, July 31, 2026. CETI is the Spanish acronym for the migrant reception center. (AP Photo/Antonio Sempere)

A migrant runs from Spanish police officers as they cordon off access to the beach for people crossing from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, Friday, July 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Antonio Sempere)

One of the states belonging to the Abraham Accords is in trouble;  Morocco.  Suddenly, some 50,000 left Morocco for Spain saying the reason was to find work as they had no jobs in Morocco.  "“There’s nothing at home. I’d have to work 12-hour shifts for a meager wage. That’s why I came here,” said 21-year-old Abdulah Buji, who hails from the city of Tetouan. “But I haven’t found any opportunities here either, so I have to go back.”

The population of Morocco is approximately 38.8 million people, ranking 41st in the world. Data sources like Worldometer place the exact figure at 38,802,929 as of July 2026,

The impetus for so many leaving at once and in dangerous ways was that Spain had a new message of allowing people into the country on a condition:  Authorities in Ceuta and Madrid have linked the border surge to a recent decision by the Spanish Supreme Court, which ruled that migrants arriving by sea could not be summarily deported, unlike those who cross by land or climb the border fence.  Sánchez said migrant smugglers misinterpreted the ruling.  The interpretation of the Supreme Court’s ruling “spread like wildfire over the past few hours through the networks of human trafficking organizations,” triggering the surge, Sánchez said.

Since independence, Morocco has remained relatively stable. It has the fifth-largest economy in Africa and wields significant influence in both Africa and the Arab world; it is considered a middle power in global affairs and holds membership in the Arab League, the Arab Maghreb Union, the Union for the Mediterranean, and the African Union. It is one of the few countries in Africa ranking high on the Human Development Index and is Africa's leading industrial economy.  So what do we really know?  

Morocco's major industries include automotive manufacturing, aerospace production, and phosphate mining. They make complete passenger cars, wiring harnesses and vehicle components, aircraft structural parts, chemical fertilizers, processed foods, and textiles.  Have they kept up with competition?  Have they been innovative?  It's a dog eat dog world nowdays. 

Arab-Berber (Amazigh): Makes up roughly 99% of the country. Millions of people identify specifically with Amazigh (Berber) language and heritage, living alongside the Arabic-speaking majority.  What is a Berber?

1820 (n.);1832 (adj;) from the Arabic name for the peoples living in the mountains and desert of the north Africa west of Egypt; Perhaps ultimately from Greek berbaros "barbarians" (see Barbary). By 1854 as the name of their Hamatic Language.

Black Moroccans: Includes historic communities and groups like the Gnawa, estimated at around 5% to 10% of the population.                   

Sahrawis: An ethnic group living in the southern desert provinces, numbering around 90,000.  Origin: They are an ethnic group of mixed Arab, Berber, and West African descent who traditionally spoke the Hassaniya dialect of Arabic.

Foreign Residents: A small expatriate and migrant community of about 100,000 people, mostly coming from France, Spain, Algeria, and Sub-Saharan African countries.  

Jewish Community: A historic minority of roughly 2,500 to 4,000 people remaining in the country.

 Resource:

https://apnews.com/article/spain-ceuta-migration-66839d113f24ba80d08b36d2b337201c