Spain and Morocco Set to Reopen Ceuta and Melilla Borders in Early 2022

No official date for the reopening of the borders of Ceuta and Melilla has been announced so far. According to rumors, the borders of Tarajal in Ceuta and Beni Ansar in Melilla, closed since March 2020 for health reasons, could be reopened during the first quarter of 2022, on March 1 to be exact, according to the Spanish newspaper El Pais.

To read: Morocco-Spain Border Reopening Likely as COVID-19 Restrictions Ease

This date would have been proposed by Morocco, according to the rumors. In any case, the reopening of the borders will initially concern the residents of Nador, bordering Melilla, and those of Tetouan, close to Ceuta. Priority will be given to students and workers. However, the issue of visas remains unresolved. For the moment, it is not known whether visas will be required as announced by the Spanish authorities who have decided to keep the two borders closed until November 30, 2021.

To read: Moroccan Workers Stranded in Ceuta for 18 Months as Border Remains Closed

The situation is causing serious harm to Moroccan cross-border workers stranded in Ceuta and Melilla for more than a year and a half. On November 1, about fifty of them demonstrated in front of the government delegation in Ceuta to demand an improvement in their living conditions.