The German ambassador to Spain made a visit to the city of Melilla on Thursday. A trip within the framework, it is said, of security cooperation, but poorly perceived by several observers, particularly Moroccans.
The Spanish Ministry of the Interior has planned to allocate a budget of 720,000 euros for the maintenance and upkeep of the borders of Ceuta and Melilla over the next two years.
The Moroccan authorities are asking the Spanish government to review the immigration law that discriminates against Moroccan workers in Ceuta and Melilla, before the reopening of the borders announced for the first quarter of 2022.
Morocco is strengthening its military cooperation with Israel. After the acquisition of Israeli drones and the project to manufacture kamikaze drones, the kingdom plans to build a military base near Melilla with its new partner.
Spain and Morocco are said to have agreed to proceed with the reopening of the borders of Ceuta and Melilla by the first quarter of 2022.
The leader of the opposition and president of the Popular Party (PP), Pablo Casado, has asked the government of Pedro Sanchez to strengthen security at the borders of Ceuta and Melilla by deploying a permanent military contingent there.
The Vox party, through the voice of its deputy in Ceuta, Teresa López, insisted on Friday on the need for Spain and the European Union to strengthen security at the borders with Morocco in order to effectively fight against illegal immigration which, according to her, is increasing in the cities of Ceuta and Melilla.
The borders of Ceuta and Melilla will remain closed until November 30, as has been the case since March 13, 2020.
The Moroccan forces operating in Nador succeeded in thwarting, on Sunday, an attempt at illegal immigration through the scaling of the iron fence between Nador and Melilla, by about thirty immigrants.
Ceuta and Melilla "cannot live by turning their backs on Morocco," assured Thursday Kissy Chandiramani (PP) and Dunia Almansouri (CPM), announcing a metamorphosis of the border at its reopening.
Morocco could reopen its borders with Ceuta and Melilla and resume maritime passenger traffic with Spain as early as November 1st, announces a Spanish media.
The Spanish army launched this Wednesday the process of exhuming the remains of bodies of soldiers and civilians buried in the cemeteries located on the rocks of Al Hoceima and Vélez de la Gomera (rock of Badis). These remains will be transferred to the Immaculate Conception cemetery in Melilla, with the help of a specialized funeral company.