Ceuta and Melilla are “untouchable,” Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles has said
Spain will not discuss the sovereignty of Ceuta and Melilla with Morocco, Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles has said after Rabat publicly renewed its claim to the North African enclaves.
The exchange comes nearly two weeks after tens of thousands of people crossed the border of Ceuta in an unprecedented influx that overwhelmed the city. At least 100 people reportedly died, many while attempting the crossing by sea, while Madrid deployed troops and accelerated returns. Most of those who entered have since been sent back, but between 3,000 and 5,000 remain on Spanish territory, according to local officials.
Moroccan Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi told Asharq TV on Tuesday that Rabat regularly raises the status of Ceuta and Melilla in negotiations with Madrid and seeks a long-term resolution through dialogue.
“This issue remains unresolved, and whenever we meet with the Spaniards, we raise it. We remain committed to our territories. This requires patience, and we want to resolve the issue through dialogue,” Ouahbi said.
In response, Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles told reporters during a visit to Ceuta on Wednesday that the two cities were “thoroughly Spanish” and “untouchable.” She described any challenge to the cities as an attack on Spain and warned that the border crisis “must never happen again.”
Spain’s Foreign Ministry issued a separate statement saying the country’s territorial integrity “has not been, and will never be, discussed with anyone.”
Ceuta and Melilla are Spain’s only land territories in Africa and form the European Union’s only land borders with the continent. Morocco has regarded the enclaves as occupied territories since gaining independence in 1956 and argues that sovereignty should ultimately be transferred to Rabat. Spain considers them integral parts of its territory, having controlled Melilla since the 15th century and Ceuta since the 17th.
The border has repeatedly become a pressure point between the two countries. In 2021, Morocco relaxed border controls during a diplomatic dispute over Spain’s decision to provide medical treatment to Western Sahara independence leader Brahim Ghali, allowing thousands of people to enter Ceuta.
Relations improved after Madrid endorsed Morocco’s autonomy proposal for the disputed territory in 2022. Rabat, however, has not renounced its claims to Ceuta and Melilla.
Madrid has largely praised the Moroccan authorities for helping repatriate migrants following the July influx, blaming people-smuggling networks for the crisis. The surge came shortly after Spain’s Supreme Court ruled that migrants intercepted at sea while attempting to reach Ceuta or Melilla could not be immediately deported.
The Moroccan Interior Ministry said on Wednesday that it had reinforced security near both enclaves after online calls for another mass crossing on August 15. It warned that organizers and participants could face prosecution and urged Spain to accelerate the return of unaccompanied Moroccan minors remaining in Ceuta.
