Morocco Considers Reopening Air Borders with Health Safeguards in Place

Pending the Inter-ministerial Committee for Monitoring the Pandemic’s decision on a possible extension of the border closure after January 31, the Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita, reaffirmed on Tuesday, before the deputies of the House of Representatives, that the government is willing to reopen the borders, provided that all necessary guarantees are given to protect the health of travelers and Moroccans.

To read: Morocco Considers Border Reopening as COVID Situation Improves

The Moroccan minister also argues that everything will depend on the evolution of the pandemic in the kingdom. "The figures are frightening. From a few hundred cases per day a few weeks ago, we are now at 4,000 per day. In December, the number of deaths was 19; in January, we already have 97, and the month is not over yet," Bourita specified, adding that the serious cases have gone from 80 to 600.

These statements by Minister Bourita raise questions and doubts. José Ángel Cadelo, an expert on Islam and the Arab world, wonders "whether this desired opening of the borders also takes into account the land borders of Ceuta and Melilla, and whether passenger maritime traffic with Spanish ports, including those of Algeciras and Tarifa, will resume."

To read: Morocco-Spain Border Reopening Likely in Late 2022, Spain Prepares New Economic Plan

For Cadelo, Morocco will continue to keep its borders with Spain closed, "at least partially." The expert argues by evoking the tensions between the two countries that have persisted for almost a year and Spain’s position on the conflict in the Sahara. Morocco "continues to put pressure on Spain to recognize its sovereignty over the Sahara, but the Spanish government is not going to pronounce against international legality, no matter how insistent Rabat is," Cadelo explained, stressing that the Moroccan ambassador to Madrid, recalled since May for consultations in Rabat, has still not returned to her post.