RABAT, Morocco – Morocco’s Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi has again defended his country’s historical and geographical rights over the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla, calling for a space for dialogue with Spanish authorities to address the issue. In an interview with the public television channel 2M, Ouahbi stated that Morocco will defend its historical and geographical rights and seek avenues of dialogue on the matter, also calling for a definitive solution to the current status of Ceuta and Melilla.
Morocco Says It Will Regain Ceuta and Melilla Through Patience and Dialogue
The minister advocated for establishing a space for dialogue with Spanish authorities to address the question of the two cities, arguing that it is not possible to remain silent on the matter, either for the sake of the future or the present. Ouahbi’s comments come three weeks after the migration crisis triggered by the irregular entry of 72,000 migrants into Ceuta from the Moroccan border, the majority of whom have already been returned, with the government now working to attend to unaccompanied minors who entered the autonomous city.
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The remarks have reignited tensions between Spain and Morocco over the status of the North African enclaves, which have been under Spanish control for centuries and are claimed by Morocco. Spanish authorities have not yet issued an official response to Ouahbi’s statements, though the timing of the comments, amid ongoing migration pressures and diplomatic strains, is likely to further complicate bilateral relations. The Moroccan minister’s call for dialogue comes as both countries continue to navigate the aftermath of the mass border crossing and the humanitarian challenges it has created.
