There is total uncertainty about the organization of the Marhaba Operation 2021 . The Moroccan government and the scientific committee continue to reflect on the possibility of holding it from early July, in compliance with the health protocol.
A few days before mid-June when the Operation Marhaba usually starts, there is great uncertainty about the opening of the Moroccan borders to allow Moroccans residing abroad (MRE) to spend their summer holidays in the kingdom. For its part, the port of Algeciras assures that it is ready for the Transit Operation, even though it doubts that it will be part of it this year.
In reaction to Morocco’s attitude of allowing thousands of migrants to arrive in Ceuta, causing an unprecedented migration crisis, the far-right party Vox has called on the Spanish government to suspend subsidies to Morocco and cancel Operation Marhaba 2021 as well as the granting of entry visas to Europe for all Moroccan citizens.
After easing the restrictive measures on May 20, the Moroccan government is preparing to relax the entry conditions into the territory.
After its cancellation in 2020, the Marhaba operation will probably take place this summer. This is evidenced by the preparations observed on the other side of Spain.
Morocco’s real estate developers, completely weakened by the devastating effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on their sector of activity, are maintaining a glimmer of hope to give themselves visibility during the next summer season, even if that of 2020 was not the most flattering due to the closure of borders.
The Spanish government said on Tuesday that the holding of this year’s Marhaba Operation will depend on the epidemiological situation in Spain and Morocco.
Morocco has closed its land borders with Ceuta and Melilla since March 2020 due to the health crisis, which did not allow the holding of the Marhaba Operation last year. There is also great uncertainty about the organization of this edition.
While no official decision has been communicated by the Moroccan government, concern is growing among the authorities of Ceuta and Melilla, who fear the exclusion of the two Spanish enclaves from the Marhaba 2021 operation. To anticipate this, the local authorities are already conducting administrative and diplomatic lobbying.
Morocco has still not provided official information on the organization of the Marhaba Operation 2021. This lack of communication is worrying on the Ceuta side.
Morocco could reopen its borders if the vaccination rate is high in the kingdom as in Spain in order to allow the organization of the Marhaba Operation. But nothing is certain for the moment. The Operation should be ensured by the boats.
As part of the organization of the Marhaba Operation this year, Morocco does not intend to transit through Ceuta and Melilla the thousands of Moroccans residing abroad (MREs) , especially from Europe, who wish to spend the summer vacation in the kingdom.