German Ambassador’s Visit to Spanish Enclave Melilla Sparks Tension with Morocco

Ambassador Wolfgang Dold was at the head of a delegation of diplomats from his country, including a consul and an intelligence official, who met with the hierarchy of the Civil Guard and the National Police operating in the city as well as with the Government Delegate, Sabrina Moh, the Spanish media reported.

Officially, Dold discussed with his Spanish interlocutors the issues relating to "the closure of the border between Spain and Morocco following the Covid-19 pandemic and the collaboration between the Spanish and Moroccan security forces in the field of security," they reported.

But it is clear that this visit by the German diplomat is poorly perceived on the Moroccan side. Some even see it as a provocation, given the context and timing. Indeed, the presence of the German ambassador in Melilla coincided with the visit of the Israeli Minister of Defense, Benny Gantz, to Morocco.

Also, it should be recalled that Germany had convened a meeting of the UN Security Council in December last year to request the examination of the recognition by the Trump administration of the Moroccanness of the Western Sahara.

All these elements lead some observers to say that Berlin is engaging in provocation and would not be ready to restore cooperation with Rabat.