Ceuta Border Reopens: Cross-Border Trade Resumes After Weeks-Long Closure

New decisions have been made by the border authorities of Ceuta to support commercial activities. Among these, the strengthening of the access portals for pedestrians in order to avoid frequent jostling.

Pedestrians, according to L’économiste, represent the majority of border trade in this region with more than 20,000 passers-by per day during peak periods. The same source recalls the deadly incidents with these porters or mule-women, who cross the passage on foot to transport goods to Morocco.

In order to avoid such incidents, the Spanish authorities had tried to rationalize the procedure by limiting the volume and weight of the packages, reports the same media.

Contrary to expectations, disorder reigns with the indifference of the Spanish merchants installed in the commercial zone of Tarajal, or Al Madraba, as it is known on the Moroccan side. The latter have seen their turnover melt like snow in the sun, notes the same source.

Given the interest of merchants in this commercial area, the Spanish authorities have committed to streamlining the passage at this border as well as through the Bab Sebta border, for vehicles. The objective is to allow easier access, without waiting, by opening all the access roads.

As a consequence, the merchants located in the city center of Ceuta are seeing their turnover plummet to the point of seeing them put the key under the doormat.