Morocco Blocks Spanish Trucks at Ceuta and Melilla Amid Sahara Dispute

Unexpectedly, Morocco has suspended the entry of the two daily Spanish trucks allocated to each city after Spain launched the customs of Ceuta and Melilla. The kingdom has blocked the process by imposing meticulous and prolonged inspections on the trucks, which, in one case, lasted up to 11 hours. A surprising decision for the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which eventually discovered that its promise to cede the airspace of the Sahara to Rabat, which it has not yet fulfilled, is the cause.

The media reported that Morocco has informed Spain that the current paralysis of customs is due to Madrid’s failure to fulfill its commitments, particularly regarding the cession of the airspace of the Sahara. Diplomatic sources had confirmed in the fall of 2024 that a final agreement had been reached on the cession of the airspace, but its implementation has not yet taken place. Morocco demands that this cession be carried out in an "immediate" and official manner, which would allow the customs to function without additional obstacles.

The management of the airspace of the Sahara is close to Rabat’s heart. This demand had been put on the table as early as November 2022 during secret meetings between the two parties. The cession of this airspace will allow Morocco to strengthen its control over the Sahara, and in turn consolidate its position in the disputes over the territorial waters near the Canary Islands, a resource-rich area, particularly in hydrocarbons. For now, it is the Spanish air traffic control center of the Canary Islands that supervises the airspace of the Sahara and derives financial benefits from it in accordance with the regulations of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).