Stranded Border Workers in Spanish Enclaves Plead for Return to Morocco

For almost two years now, border workers have been stuck in Ceuta and Melilla, where they used to go to work every morning and return home to Morocco in the evening. They do not have a residence permit and therefore cannot reside in the autonomous cities. They have found themselves in a complicated situation since Morocco closed the borders for health reasons.

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

For now, there is no prospect of the borders reopening, despite the many rumors that had announced a probable reopening in May 2022. The diplomatic crisis between Spain and Morocco is also not helping to facilitate the reopening of the borders. In total, hundreds of border workers would be stranded in Ceuta or Melilla. As a solution to their situation, the Spanish government is offering them to return to Morocco without the possibility of returning, which would force them to give up their jobs, or to endure the current situation, until a return to normal.

Read: Moroccan Workers Urge Border Reopening with Spanish Enclaves Amid Diplomatic Talks

Gathered in a collective, the border workers in Ceuta and Melilla are calling for help, aware that the reopening of the borders is a matter of diplomacy between the two countries. But so far, the signals are not reassuring. Morocco announced at the end of December that it would not resume its flights with Spain, which represents a "threat" to its population due to the non-compliance with health controls in the airports.

Furthermore, relations between the two countries are far from being restored. The Moroccan ambassador to Madrid, Karima Benyaich, recalled since May for consultations in Rabat, has still not returned to her post. A situation that prevents the return of these hundreds of border workers stranded in the autonomous cities for almost two years.