Moroccan Diaspora Faces "Humiliating" Border Ordeal: Calls for Urgent Reform at Melilla Crossing

These long waits, which can last several hours, are made more painful by the lack of basic services, according to several testimonies. MREs describe a lack of access to drinking water, toilets, or rest areas in the sun, a situation described by some as "humiliating" and not in line with the expected welcome.

A Moroccan who came from France for his vacation, quoted by Rue20, expresses his distress. He stated: "It is unacceptable that elderly people, children and women wait more than six hours without the minimum conditions of comfort and dignity." The same traveler added: "We are not entering a foreign country, we are returning home."

Faced with this recurring situation, many MREs have used social media to call for urgent intervention by the competent authorities, in Morocco and in Spain. The calls aim to obtain better traffic fluidity and to guarantee an organization that respects the conditions of return, particularly during the Marhaba Operation, which sees a massive influx of Moroccans from around the world.

The repetition of these problems every summer highlights the need to restructure and modernize the reception infrastructure at the borders. Such modernization is presented as being in line with Morocco’s image and a mark of respect for its diaspora, which is an important economic and social pillar for the country.