Morocco revives Ceuta and Melilla claim in front of King Mohammed VI
If Ceuta and Melilla weren’t already at the centre of political tension these past few weeks, new remarks made before […]
Moroccan Minister of Islamic Affairs, Ahmed Toufiq, has reignited Morocco's longstanding claim over the Spanish cities of Ceuta and Melilla during a major religious ceremony in Rabat. Speaking in the presence of King Mohammed VI, Crown Prince Moulay Hassan, Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch, and senior state officials, Toufiq invoked historical and religious references linked to the two cities.
The timing of the remarks is significant, coming less than a month after the mass entry into Ceuta and just days after Morocco's Justice Minister referred to Morocco's "historical and geographical rights" over Ceuta and Melilla. Spanish media and analysts have interpreted the references as an indirect claim over Ceuta and Melilla, adding weight to the remarks given the setting.
The comments have prompted debate in Spain over whether Morocco is increasing pressure over Ceuta and Melilla through historical, religious, and political messaging. For residents of Ceuta and Melilla, sovereignty is a pressing issue as the cities play a key role in migration, trade, and security between Spain, Morocco, and the European Union.
Morocco has maintained its claim to Ceuta and Melilla since independence in 1956, while Spain insists that both cities are integral parts of Spanish territory and part of the European Union.
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