Morocco Tightens Border Controls, Excludes Spanish Enclaves for Summer Return Operation

Morocco has ordered the strengthening of customs controls in ports and airports to start the Marhaba 2020 operation on July 15, according to the Spanish media. However, no mention has been made of the land borders with Spain in reference to Sebta and Melilla. Thus, Rabat maintains the closure of the borders with the two autonomous cities under Spanish authority. This decision comes within the framework of the health crisis.

According to El Espanol, the Spanish Ministry of the Interior is not informed of the date of the operation. However, Spain says it is ready for any eventuality and therefore to cooperate.

As a reminder, it was following the monstrous traffic jams in southern Spain, particularly in Algeciras, that this operation was born in 1986. Spain has been coordinating for three decades, especially in summer and at the end of the year, the passage of thousands of people traveling from Europe to Morocco to spend their holidays.

With the land borders closed this summer, the second most frequented route Algesiras-Ceuta, which recorded a 19.3% increase in traffic in 2019, will not be operational. The Almería-Melilla route, with 176,000 passengers in 2019, would also be excluded.