Ceuta Officials Hesitant to Reopen Border for Annual Moroccan Transit Operation Amid COVID Concerns

The local authorities in Ceuta are not decided on reopening the borders, given the still critical epidemiological situation of the city. For the president of the city, Juan Vivas, the border, closed for more than a year, will be allowed to reopen "if the epidemiological situation improves", recalling that Ceuta remains the second Spanish territory with the highest rate of coronavirus infections.

Spain and Morocco would already be active in the organization of Operation Marhaba 2021. Yet, to date, neither of the two countries has officially confirmed the information. This week, the government delegate in Ceuta, Salvadora Mateos, simply indicated that for the moment, nothing is certain.

For his part, the president of the Port Authority of the Bay of Algeciras, Gerardo Landaluce, has already told the press that Operation Marhaba would be organized this year, under particular circumstances of restrictions and health controls. The question that remains pending is whether the Moroccans living abroad will pass through Ceuta to reach Morocco, as was the case in previous editions of the Transit Operation.