Spain’s sovereignty would be threatened by Morocco, which would claim the enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, according to a report by the Spanish army and the Ministry of Defense, which calls for strengthening communication facilities and controls in these territories.
Beyond the reception in April of Brahim Ghali, the leader of the Polisario Front, by Spain, the Sahara is the main cause of the current diplomatic crisis between Morocco and Spain.
A few days before mid-June when the Operation Marhaba usually starts, there is great uncertainty about the opening of the Moroccan borders to allow Moroccans residing abroad (MRE) to spend their summer holidays in the kingdom. For its part, the port of Algeciras assures that it is ready for the Transit Operation, even though it doubts that it will be part of it this year.
28 Moroccans will be tried on June 8 for "illegal immigration, disobedience and destruction of public property." The issue of migrants who want to cross the border at all costs, sometimes at the risk of their lives, has been insistently raised lately, especially with the migratory flow experienced by the cities of Ceuta and Melilla.
The tensions between Morocco and Spain are a concern for Driss Lachgar, first secretary of the Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP). He calls on Madrid to discuss with Rabat the future of Sebta and Melilla.
Faced with the influx of migrants, especially minors who arrived in Ceuta between Monday and Tuesday, Spain has opened 250 reception centers in Andalusia to house them. Of different nationalities including Moroccan, these minors were counted among the 6,000 irregular migrants who reached Ceuta by swimming or on inflatable boats.
The massive influx of migrants to Ceuta has prompted Morocco to deploy security forces to maintain order along the border and prevent forced crossings.
Moroccan and sub-Saharan migrants have set their sights on Melilla, the other Spanish enclave located on the Moroccan coast. More than 86 people managed to cross the barrier from Morocco, while the day before, 6,000 people had managed to reach Sebta by swimming, under the passive gaze of the Moroccan military.
The researcher specialized in migration on the border between Spain and Morocco, Keina Espiñeira, claims that "Morocco has used the pandemic (of Covid-19) to exert increased pressure on Ceuta and Melilla".
Morocco, which has been steadily strengthening and modernizing its army for years, with the support of the United States, which has moreover recognized its sovereignty over the Sahara, would constitute a threat to Spain.
Morocco continues to put pressure on Spain and this has intensified in recent days following the reception of Brahim Ghali. The Kingdom, which should organize the Marhaba operation dedicated to Moroccans living abroad this year, could exclude the two enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla.
The enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla will remain closed until May 31. This is the decision made by the Spanish government in view of the tense diplomatic context prevailing with Morocco, but also the health situation.