Sanchez ‘Confident’ Morocco’s Borders With Ceuta, Melilla Will Reopen Soon

Rabat - Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, said he is ‘confident’ that Morocco’s borders with the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla could reopen "very soon."

The prime minister made his remarks on Wednesday said at a press conference in Melilla.

The Spanish PM said that the Ceuta and Melilla borders will reopen soon following Spain’s decision to back Morocco’s proposal for the Western Sahara conflict.

Morocco had closed the land borders in 2019, as the two border crossing points see intensive illegal goods smuggling. 

March 18 marked the end of a diplomatic crisis between Spain and Morocco after the Sanchez government officially endorsed the Moroccan Autonomy Initiative as the most serious and credible solution to end the conflict over Western Sahara.

Spain also expressed determination to continue to work to boost cooperation with Morocco at different levels, emphasizing the strategic importance of the North African country.

Spain’s new position came after an unprecedented diplomatic crisis between the two countries in 2021.  Diplomatic tensions erupted after Spain hosted the leader of the separatist group of the Polisario Front  Ibrahim Ghali in April 2021.

The move angered Morocco, which said that Spain’s sheltering of the Polisario Front leaderwas a direct breach of the two counties.

source: moroccoworldnews