The Moroccan Minister of Justice proposed a bilateral dialogue mechanism to resolve the future of Ceuta and Melilla, invoking "historical and geographical" rights. Spain immediately rejected the proposal, reaffirming its full sovereignty over the two autonomous cities.
Abdellatif Ouahbi, Morocco's Minister of Justice, gave an interview to the public television channel 2M on Friday in which he defended Morocco's "historical and geographical" rights to Ceuta and Melilla. He proposed the creation of a bilateral mechanism to find what he called a "definitive solution," which, in his view, would lead to the integration of the two cities into Moroccan territory.
Madrid's response was swift. Sources within the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported a "categorical rejection" conveyed to Rabat, reiterating that Ceuta and Melilla fall under the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Spain, and as such constitute a part of the territory of the European Union.
This is not the first time the Moroccan minister has spoken on this subject since the beginning of the migration crisis shaking Ceuta. As early as August 12, Ouahbi had stated that the issue remained "on the table" in discussions between the two countries, and that Rabat had no intention of abandoning it.
These statements come amid high tension in Ceuta, after tens of thousands of people crossed the border from Morocco in late July, overwhelming reception facilities and causing the deaths of dozens of individuals.
Moroccan territorial claims over Ceuta and Melilla date back to the kingdom's independence in 1956. Since then, Spain has systematically rejected them, refusing any challenge to its sovereignty over these two enclaves located on the North African coast.
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