Morocco Challenges Spanish Control of Ceuta and Melilla in UN Letter

In a letter dated September 9 addressed to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva, the Moroccan government stated that "Melilla continues to be an occupied territory and that consequently, we cannot speak of borders, but only of simple crossing points".

Morocco does not have "land borders with Spain," the Moroccan government specified in its letter, which is a response to another sent by the UN in July, asking the Moroccan authorities for information on the excessive use of force against sub-Saharan migrants on June 24 last.

These statements by Morocco before the UN are surprising after the meeting between President Pedro Sánchez and King Mohammed VI last April in Rabat, notes the local media Ceuta Al dia.