Moroccan Youth Flee to Spanish Enclave, Citing Mandatory Military Service

A total of 80 young people tried to cross the Melilla border, but 14 of them managed to enter the autonomous city despite the rapid intervention of the Civil Guard to push them back, reports La Razón. Since the closure of the borders, many young Moroccans have been trying to immigrate to Spain via Melilla or Ceuta to apply for asylum due to, among other things, their sexual orientation.

To read: Moroccan Police Foil Illegal Border Crossing Attempt at Nador-Melilla Fence

It will take the authorities of the autonomous cities about two years to verify these statements. Meanwhile, most of these minors (estimated at 500) are transferred to Spain where it is no longer possible to locate them in case their asylum application is rejected.

This new assault by migrants comes in a context marked by Morocco’s interest in "annexing" Ceuta and Melilla, the newspaper explains. The kingdom has been pursuing a policy of blockade on the two enclaves for years, putting an end to the smuggling trade in Ceuta and closing the customs post in Melilla.