A week after the reopening of the Ceuta and Melilla border crossings, the joy of being able to travel after two years of prohibition has quickly given way to grumbling. Many disapprove of some of the conditions regarding the movement of people and goods.
Since the reopening of the Melilla border with Morocco, the Moroccan authorities are not allowing any products purchased in the autonomous city to enter, while the Spanish authorities are allowing travelers to cross the border with their goods. The Popular Party (PP) is considering denouncing this lack of reciprocity in parliament if nothing is done in the next few days to correct the situation.
The massive vaccination against Covid-19 recorded last week in Melilla after the reopening of the border with Morocco has led to a shortage of vaccine doses. The authorities of the autonomous city have announced the suspension of vaccination, pending the receipt of new doses.
In announcing the reopening of the border posts of Ceuta and Melilla, the Moroccan authorities had stated that they would not in any case tolerate smuggling. Today, it is the turn of the General Directorate of Customs (DGI) to indicate that there will no longer be any smuggling activity at the Bab Sebta and Beni Ansar crossing points.
The reopening of the Melilla border with Morocco has not yet had a significant impact on the city’s businesses, as the goods traffic has not yet resumed.
The president of the Popular Party (PP), Juan José Imbroda, has requested that the visa exemption granted to Moroccans from Tetouan and Nador , near Ceuta and Melilla, be abolished and that a visa be required for all Moroccans entering the two autonomous cities.
The government delegate in Melilla, Sabrina Moh, announced on Friday that despite the reopening of the border, the Muslims of the autonomous city will not be able to import sheep from Morocco for the celebration in early July of Aid al-adha. This is due to the health alert for foot-and-mouth disease, which is still in effect.
The health measures required at the Melilla border have led to a decrease in passenger traffic compared to the first day of reopening.
Some 25 citizens of Melilla coming from Morocco did not comply with the health rules established by the autonomous city at the border. They will face the rigors of the law.
The vice president and Minister of the Treasury of the Canary Islands, Roman Rodriguez, reiterated the position of the Canarian government on the Sahara, namely the recognition of the right to self-determination, stressing that after the Sahara, Morocco will attack Ceuta and Melilla.
The Civil Guard has deployed drones to monitor the Melilla border with Morocco, a few hours before the reopening at 00:00 on Tuesday.
The government delegate in Melilla, Sabrina Moh, announced that the Moroccan authorities will impose the entry stamp on passports on residents of the autonomous city who wish to cross the border to go to the kingdom.