Moroccan Official’s Remarks on Ceuta and Melilla Spark Royal Palace Backlash

After his controversial statements on "the liberation of Ceuta and Melilla" from Spanish occupation, Ennam Mayara, deferring to the injunctions of Nizar Baraka, the secretary general of Istiqlal, has attempted a backpedaling. He explained the substance of his thinking and at the same time denied having made such statements, reports the Arabic daily Al Akhbar. Not enough to satisfy the royal palace, shocked by "Ennam Mayara’s off-track" statement, reports the website Goud.ma.

As the sole leader of Istiqlal, Nizar Baraka is trying to extinguish the fire. During a meeting with the party’s activists, he recalled the convergence of the party’s positions towards Spain with those of the Royal Palace.