Morocco’s Economic Boom Threatens Spanish Enclaves Ceuta and Melilla

The Spanish newspaper El Español devoted a report to the many large-scale development projects currently under construction. This economic boom reflects King Mohammed VI’s vision for these regions. The many construction sites have transformed these cities.

For Spain, these development projects in Morocco aim to asphyxiate the two cities and force Madrid to negotiate with Rabat the future status of these two enclaves. Some projects have flooded the localities neighboring the enclaves. These include the expansion of Laroui airport and the tramway project. The latter will be put into service in 2025, and will shuttle between Laroui airport and the West-Mediterranean port under construction, still in Nador. A tramway line is also planned to connect the city of Nador to the city center of Melilla, with "Plaza de Espana".

To these projects are added the tourist projects of Marchica, but also large hotel projects with a capacity of 34,000 beds, and all the basic infrastructure that goes with it (roads, highways, etc.). To deliver the coup de grace to these cities, especially Melilla, the government could force planes taking off or landing in Melilla to fall back on Laroui airport in Nador.

As for Ceuta, two major projects, namely the launch of the Tanger-Med port and the new free zone of Fnideq, could definitively put an end to smuggling.