Diplomatic Rift Between Morocco and Spain Enters 100th Day Over Polisario Leader’s Visit

The arrival of Brahim Ghali in Spain on April 18 provoked a major diplomatic crisis with Morocco, which led to an unprecedented migration crisis that occurred on May 17 and 18 with the arrival of more than 10,000 migrants in Ceuta. In reaction to the arrival of the leader of the Polisario Front, Rabat called back its ambassador to Madrid, Karima Benyaich, for consultations. For his part, President Pedro Sánchez thanked Foreign Minister González Laya for trying to "appease" Morocco. But this does not seem enough to end the crisis, recalls El Espanol.

To read: Spain’s New Foreign Minister Prioritizes Strengthening Ties with Morocco

According to Samir Bennis, a political scientist and specialist in Spanish-Moroccan relations, this crisis is the most serious recorded since independence. "Since Morocco’s independence until today, the channels of communication and dialogue between the two countries have never been broken," he explains. "Whoever is in charge of Foreign Affairs in Spain, if this government does not return to its approach to Morocco and does not clarify its position on the Sahara issue, it is not possible to return to normalcy in bilateral relations, at least not in the near future," adds Samir Bennis.

To read: Spain and Morocco in Talks to Restore Relations, Ceuta and Melilla Status in Focus

The new minister Albares had supported on taking office that he would make the resumption of relations with Morocco one of his priorities. But for two weeks that he has been at the head of the Department of Foreign Affairs, he has still not made his first visit to Rabat. Meanwhile, Morocco is raising the stakes. In addition to the recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara, Rabat is now demanding co-sovereignty over the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla.

To read: Spain Strengthens Ties with Morocco, Calling It "Priority Partner"

The current crisis is also affecting economic relations between the two countries. Morocco’s cancellation, for the second consecutive year, of the Marhaba Operation, is "a very important precedent that makes this crisis different and deeper than that of Perejil..." observes Samir Bennis. In addition, Spain continues to dominate imports and exports with Morocco. Nearly a quarter of Moroccan exports and 15% of its imports are with Spain.

As for Moroccans residing in Spain, they see only one way out of the crisis. They wish "a meeting between Mohammed VI and Felipe VI, who share a great friendship".