Spain-Morocco Border Closure: Ceuta Trade Halts for August

The decision to restrict the activity of the carriers was taken by mutual agreement between the border authorities of the two countries and will come into effect on July 29. It will last at least until September 3, just after Autonomy Day, reports the Spanish media La Vanguardia.

This, notes Europa Press, is the cessation of the commercial activity to which thousands of Moroccan citizens are devoted and which weighs between 25 and 30% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the Spanish city.

To justify this decision, the government authorities argue that it corresponds to "the confluence of a series of festive dates". These include, the media points out, the patron saint festivities in honor of the Virgin of Africa (from July 30 to August 5) and Eid al-Adha, the most important celebration of the Muslim calendar, which will take place in mid-August.

Furthermore, the same source details, this decision will facilitate the transit of Moroccans traveling to their country of origin in the summer, as part of the "Paso del Estrecho" (OPE or "Marhaba" 2019, on the Moroccan side) operation, whose "most critical days" are expected for the end of August.