Morocco has closed its land borders with Ceuta and Melilla since March 2020 due to the health crisis, which did not allow the holding of the Marhaba Operation last year. There is also great uncertainty about the organization of this edition.
While no official decision has been communicated by the Moroccan government, concern is growing among the authorities of Ceuta and Melilla, who fear the exclusion of the two Spanish enclaves from the Marhaba 2021 operation. To anticipate this, the local authorities are already conducting administrative and diplomatic lobbying.
Morocco has still not provided official information on the organization of the Marhaba Operation 2021. This lack of communication is worrying on the Ceuta side.
The Confederation of Employers of Melilla (CEME-CEOE) denounces the unilateral closure by Morocco of the customs post and intends to seize the Council of Europe "so that it forces Morocco to allow imports again".
As part of the organization of the Marhaba Operation this year, Morocco does not intend to transit through Ceuta and Melilla the thousands of Moroccans residing abroad (MREs) , especially from Europe, who wish to spend the summer vacation in the kingdom.
The far-right party Vox continues to insist that the Spanish government take all measures to defend the sovereignty of Ceuta and Melilla against an attempt by Morocco to claim these enclaves.
The borders of Ceuta and Melilla with Morocco will remain closed until April 30 due to the health crisis. This is what the Spanish Ministry of the Interior announced on Monday, March 29.
This Saturday, March 13, marks one year since the land borders between Spain and Morocco were closed, much to the dismay of the inhabitants of the two countries. With the health crisis continuing, it is to be feared that the situation will remain unchanged for a long time to come.
In response to questions from some senators from the PP and Vox parties, the Spanish government stated that Morocco is a "strategic partner" with whom it can have divergent positions on essential issues such as the sovereignty of Ceuta and Melilla.
In a report published on Monday, March 8, on the occasion of International Women’s Day, the Andalusian Association for Human Rights (APDHA) calls for the rights of thousands of female mules to be respected during this period of health crisis that has led to the closure of borders.
Motril port is resuming two connections this month and launching a new freight line with Morocco, after a year of suspension due to the health crisis. This is the connection with Melilla, which resumes this Friday with the shipping company FRS and the operation, at the end of this month, of a new passenger line with Melilla, which will be operated by the company Balearia.
The Melilla police dismantled a network of sexual exploitation of irregular Moroccan women. The head of the network, a 38-year-old Moroccan, was placed in pre-trial detention.