Protesters Rally at Melilla-Morocco Border, Demand Reopening After Two-Year Closure

These people responded in large numbers to the call to demonstrate that circulated on social networks all day on Wednesday. The message sounded the general mobilization to demand the reopening of the border from 11:00 pm. On foot or by car, the protesters, whistle in mouth, invaded the Beni Ensar border post at the appointed time, according to El Debate, specifying that a large police force was on site to prevent them from advancing.

The Coalition for Melilla (CPM), the main party in the government of the autonomous city, joined the protesters’ call for the reopening of the border "as promised by Pedro Sanchez during his visit to Morocco". In a tweet, the political formation indicated that "the inhabitants of Melilla have been waiting for this moment for years".

To read: Spain Extends Closure of Ceuta and Melilla Borders with Morocco to April 30

Earlier in the day, the government delegation in Melilla specified that there is still no "precise date" for the reopening of the border, thus denying the rumors on social networks that announced this reopening for Wednesday evening. The border "will remain closed, for the moment," the delegation assured.

"All the unions and associations of the State security forces say that the border crossing points are not at all ready to open, so we were taken by surprise," lamented for his part, Juan José Imbroda, regional president and PP senator, arguing that this situation is the consequence of Pedro Sanchez’s decision to change his position on the Sahara in an "unexpected, apparently without thinking and without prior negotiation".