Spain Begins Mass Repatriation of Unaccompanied Moroccan Minors from Ceuta

A massive repatriation, according to El Faro de Ceuta, which points out that this operation was made possible, following an agreement between the Moroccan and Spanish authorities. It was in the early afternoon that a first group of minors left the Santa Amelia sports center where they were being housed.

"The fact that this transfer has been made possible is a historic and clear gesture that relations with Morocco have changed since this effective rupture in May," comments El Faro de Ceuta. The newspaper mentions "a direct involvement" of the Interior Ministers of the two countries, Abdelouafi Laftit and Fernando Grande-Marlaska.

The repatriation was highly anticipated since on June 1st, King Mohammed VI reiterated his instructions for the issue of unaccompanied Moroccan minors abroad to be definitively settled. The king had reassured all foreign heads of state that Morocco accepted "the return of duly identified minors".