Traffic is heavy on Boulevard Hassan II in the city of Fnideq due to thousands of Moroccans residing abroad (MREs) who have booked their return tickets between Thursday and Sunday to return to their host countries.
Many residents of Melilla leaving for Morocco complained on Sunday of the long waiting time at the border before entering the kingdom. At the same time, other citizens of the autonomous city felt that the influx was lower compared to other days.
Moroccans residing abroad (MREs) spend an average of five hours waiting at the border before entering Ceuta as part of the return phase of Operation Marhaba.
Moroccans residing abroad (MREs) who plan to return to their countries of residence after spending the summer holidays in Morocco are prohibited from transporting certain products.
Announced as "historic" due to the massive influx of Moroccans living abroad (MRE) expected, the 2022 Operation Marhaba, the first organized after the health and diplomatic crisis between Morocco and Spain, did not meet expectations.
The Port Authority of Algeciras has reminded Moroccans in Europe engaged in the return phase of Operation Marhaba of the products allowed to enter Spain from Morocco, according to European regulations.
More than 13,000 MREs and 3,000 vehicles joined Morocco from Ceuta last weekend, while 22,365 MREs and 5,144 vehicles made the traffic in the opposite direction, as part of the return phase of Operation Marhaba.
Since the closure of the border for health reasons, taxis can no longer enter Morocco. The situation has not changed despite the reopening of the borders in May, due to the new traveler regime which requires the presentation of a passport before crossing the border on both sides.
The Secretary General of the Popular Party (PP) in Melilla, Miguel Marín, denounced the "improvisation" noted in the conduct of the Marhaba Operation at the Melilla-Morocco border, due to the lack of agents dedicated to document control.
Long queues were recorded on Saturday on the Moroccan side of the Tarajal border. Moroccans from Europe, at the end of their holidays in the kingdom, are waiting to cross the border to return to their countries of residence as part of the return phase of the Marhaba Operation.
The Marhaba 2022 operation is continuing "under good conditions," according to the Tanger Med port authority. According to its forecasts, the return period will reach its peak from August 25 to 30 .
The Hassan II Foundation, the main organizer of the Marhaba 2022 operation , has already received 900 complaints from Moroccans residing abroad (MREs). A figure up from previous editions.