The chief of staff to the Spanish government's delegate in Ceuta, Gonzalo Sanz, has resigned, deepening a political controversy over what authorities knew before a mass migrant crossing from Morocco in late July. The resignation, which has not yet been officially confirmed by the Government Delegation, comes as Madrid faces questions over its handling of the crisis.
Sanz said he received a warning from the National Intelligence Centre (CNI) on 29 July, alerting him to social media calls for a mass crossing the following day. He claims he passed that information to the delegate, Miguel Ángel Pérez Triano, the same day. But Triano has repeatedly insisted he was unaware of the warning until the government declassified documents on the crisis.
In a statement, Sanz said there was an obvious “inconsistency” between his account and the delegate's public comments. He stressed that his resignation was not motivated by any “bitterness” towards Triano, and praised the delegation's efforts to obtain responses from the central government. He also expressed hope that Ceuta “returns to normal as soon as possible.”
Declassified reports and the CNI warning
The resignation comes just two days after the government released 40 declassified reports containing communications between the CNI, the Government Delegation, and the Civil Guard. Those messages, sent via WhatsApp, show an intelligence officer flagging concerns about calls on social media for an “assault” by “sea and land” on the autonomous city, timed to coincide with Morocco's Throne Day celebrations when security forces would be occupied.
After the warning, an 11-minute phone call took place between the delegation's office and the CNI agent. Shortly afterwards, Sanz replied to the officer, confirming receipt of the warning. The declassified documents have fuelled opposition criticism that the government was slow to react despite clear intelligence.
Triano, however, has downplayed the significance of the exchange, describing it as part of “an exchange of informational documents” rather than a specific alert about a mass entry. In a press conference, he ruled out resigning, arguing that the authorities had only been warned of “a serious and complex migration situation” and that the scale of the 30-31 July influx overwhelmed any possible preparation.
The crisis, which saw thousands of migrants cross into Ceuta, has exposed tensions within Spain and the EU. The European Parliament has debated the surge, and the EU has approved €114.7 million in aid for the response. Some former officials have called the event a hybrid attack to destabilise the EU, while MEPs have sparred over solidarity and border management.
Sanz's resignation adds a personal dimension to the political fallout. His decision to step down, while insisting on the delegation's hard work, suggests a breakdown in trust between the delegate and his closest aide. The Spanish government has yet to comment officially on the resignation, but the controversy is unlikely to fade quickly.
The Ceuta episode has also reignited debate over Spain's relationship with Morocco and the management of its North African enclaves. The declassified reports and the resignation are likely to feature in upcoming parliamentary hearings, as opposition parties demand accountability.
