Spain Demands Ceuta and Melilla Protection in Morocco Talks on Western Sahara

The unprecedented migration crisis that occurred in May in Ceuta, and the repeated assaults of sub-Saharan migrants in Melilla, led Spain to place the issue of the protection and sovereignty of these autonomous cities at the heart of the negotiations with Morocco that led to the decision to support the Sahara autonomy plan.

The Spanish government has clearly indicated that this change in Spain’s position opens a new stage in the relationship with Morocco, based on "mutual respect and agreements, the absence of unilateral actions, transparency and permanent communication to continue to guarantee the stability, sovereignty, territorial integrity and prosperity of the two countries".

If mutual respect between Morocco and Spain is essential for Ceuta and Melilla, the reopening of borders is just as urgent, says El Faro de Ceuta, recalling that Morocco has already created an economic activity zone in Fnideq, near Ceuta. It is therefore urgent, in this context marked by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, to take security measures at all levels to protect the two autonomous cities from a Moroccan attack.

In this sense, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, should travel to Morocco at the end of this month in order to prepare the visit of President of the Government Pedro Sanchez in the following days. All of this should be done before the start of the month of Ramadan.