Apple Maps displays several territories administered by Spain and claimed by Morocco as being located in Morocco. This is a particularly sensitive depiction as sovereignty over Spain’s North African enclaves continues to divide Rabat and Madrid.
The political battle launched in Spain against Morocco’s place in the 2030 World Cup could end up costing Spanish companies dearly. Rabat has imposed no sanctions, but the possibility of reviewing future contracts is now being openly discussed.
Irregular entries into Ceuta have nearly tripled since January. But this striking figure does not even include the 72,000 crossings recorded at the end of July: for the second consecutive report, Spain’s Interior Ministry is leaving them out of its statistics.
Spain is further strengthening its military presence in Ceuta. More than 150 soldiers from the Canary Islands Command will join the units already deployed in the city following the mass arrival of migrants from Morocco in late July.
Amid the Ceuta crisis, the Spanish government considered turning to Felipe VI to open a direct channel with Mohammed VI. A minister sounded out the Royal Household about whether it would be appropriate to call the Moroccan sovereign. The idea was ultimately abandoned.
For sixteen years, Spanish justice had been unable to locate this Moroccan man. His arrival in Ceuta during the mass entry on July 30 ultimately changed everything: an incident with a resident led to his identification and brought back to light judicial proceedings dating from 2010.
Officially, Madrid continues to praise its cooperation with Rabat. But according to RTVE, the Spanish government is simultaneously examining the energy levers it could use to deter Morocco in the event of a new migration crisis.
Spanish police officers and civil guards had warned Madrid several times before the mass influx toward Sebta. Reuters found six warnings addressed to the authorities in the weeks preceding 29 and 30 July.
Morocco says that the status of Ceuta and Melilla is regularly discussed with Spain. Madrid responds that its territorial integrity has never been discussed and never will be. Two difficult-to-reconcile versions of the same diplomatic dialogue.
Moroccans residing in Italy who travel to Spain must now keep their passport and residence permit close at hand. Since this Saturday, August 8, Madrid has reinstated checks at ports and airports for travelers arriving from Italy.
Sahra is only 5 years old. Since the crossing to Ceuta, she has kept her mother from sleeping: whenever Assia closes her eyes, her daughter asks her to open them again, convinced that she could die after believing she was drowning.
Felipe VI has committed to visiting Ceuta following the recent migration crisis. No date has yet been set, but the last visit by a Spanish sovereign to the city had triggered serious diplomatic tensions with Morocco.