Melilla Businesses See Little Change After Border Reopening with Morocco

"Nothing has changed. Everything is the same," the entrepreneurs told El Faro de Melilla, stressing that the only difference noted is the resumption of passenger traffic. Aware that the goods traffic is not yet authorized, they ask the Moroccan authorities to allow Moroccans visiting the autonomous city to shop.

"They are used to Spanish products, they even prefer them even if they are more expensive," explains another merchant. According to them, they do not want the return of smuggling, but simply ask that Moroccans be allowed to cross the border with the products purchased in the autonomous city.

Since the reopening of the border on Tuesday, May 17, a visa and a vaccination certificate are required to enter Morocco, which considerably reduces the flow of those who have not seen their relatives for more than two years. With the new entry and exit rules, Mimuda, one of them, does not plan to shop for the trip to Morocco. "I no longer intend to buy anything in Morocco or bring anything here," he assures.

"We are going to visit relatives in Morocco, take a little walk and then come back to Melilla," says Hamed, behind the wheel of his car, accompanied by his wife, Amina. In the back of the vehicle are bags of various products he would like to give to his relatives. "Toilet paper, kitchen paper... nothing more," he confides, adding that the most important thing right now is to see their relatives again.