Spain has firmly rejected renewed sovereignty claims by Morocco over the North African enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, insisting that their status as Spanish territories is not open for discussion.
The latest dispute emerged after Morocco’s Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi said Rabat continued to raise the status of the two cities during negotiations with Spain, with the long-term aim of resolving the issue through dialogue.
Morocco has regarded Ceuta and Melilla as territories occupied by Spain since gaining independence in 1956, arguing that sovereignty over the cities should eventually be transferred to Rabat. Spain, however, considers both enclaves integral parts of its territory, with Ceuta under Spanish rule since the 17th century and Melilla since the 15th century.
Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles rejected Morocco’s position during a visit to Ceuta on Wednesday, describing the two enclaves as firmly Spanish.
“Ceuta and Melilla aren’t just Spanish; they’re super-Spanish and cannot be touched,” she said.
Robles also warned that any attack on the enclaves would be considered an attack on Spain as a whole, while referring to the recent border crisis involving a mass attempt by migrants to enter Ceuta.
The crisis in late July saw an estimated 72,000 migrants briefly cross into the enclave, with at least 96 people reported dead in the mass border rush.
Despite the sovereignty dispute, Madrid has largely praised Morocco for its cooperation in repatriating migrants and has blamed people-smuggling networks for the border crisis.
Spain’s Foreign Ministry reiterated on Wednesday that the country’s territorial integrity “has not been, and will never be, discussed with anyone”.
Meanwhile, Morocco’s Interior Ministry said it had increased security along its borders with Ceuta and Melilla following online calls for another mass crossing attempt on August 15.
The ministry warned that organisers and participants could face prosecution, while urging the public not to be influenced by what it described as misleading calls that could put lives at risk.
Morocco also called on Spain to speed up the repatriation of unaccompanied Moroccan minors currently in Ceuta.
The latest exchange highlights the longstanding sensitivity surrounding the two enclaves, even as Spain and Morocco continue to cooperate on migration and border security issues.
