Madrid angry with Rabat after official remarks on Ceuta, Melilla occupation

After a Moroccan official referred to Ceuta and Melilla as occupied territories, Madrid's political scene rages in anger in the first diplomatic crisis between the states since mending ties last year.

Last week, the president of the Moroccan Chamber of Councillors, Sahrawi Ennam Mayara, pleaded "to put an end to the colonisation" of Ceuta and Melilla "through a negotiated solution, without resorting to arms". 

Mayara, who is a member of the nationalist Istiqlal (Independent) Party, a part of the ruling coalition, stressed that "Ceuta and Melilla will not be blackmailed", in what seemed to be a reference to the circulating reports claiming that Rabat gave up on Ceuta and Melilla's sovereignty in exchange of Madrid's support for the Moroccan autonomy plan in the disputed Western Sahara region.

On 10 April, the Spanish Minister of Defence Margarita Robles reacted to Mayara's remarks. Quoted by Europa Press, Robles said, "Ceuta and Melilla are Spanish; there is nothing more to dispute," Robles declared with "absolute and entire authority."

When asked if the Spanish government would ask Morocco for clarification, Robles said no discussion was scheduled.

In a rare moment in the Spanish political scene, right-wing and left-wing parties took the same stance on the Moroccan official's statements calling for 'stronger and stricter' diplomacy vias-a-vis Rabat.

The Spanish Popular Party (PSOE), a right and first opposition force in the House of Representatives, believes that Mayara's remarks are further proof of the "weakness" of Prime Minister Sanchez's cabinet in the face of Morocco.

Podemos, a partner of Sanchez's PSOE in the ruling majority, tied the recent controversy to Spain's policy shift on Western Sahara, which the far-left party strongly disapproves of.

"We believe that Spain must continue to defend its sovereignty but also democracy, human rights and the right to self-determination of the Saharawi people," said Javier Sánchez Serna, Podemos' spokesperson.

Ceuta and Melilla are Europe's only territories in mainland Africa. After its independence, Morocco has continued to demand their return, along with four other smaller territories in the Mediterranean, located along the narrow strait of Gibraltar.

Spain captured both Ceuta and Melilla in what is known as the Reconquista - the military campaign to evict the Muslims from what is now Spain and Portugal.

Today, Spain categorically rejects any talk of negotiation between the two cities and insists that they have been Spanish for more than five centuries and are an integral part of the Spanish state.

Morocco's pursuit to regain control of Ceuta and Melilla has been lukewarm, with officials stressing that resorting to arms will never be an option.

Crucially, Morocco failed to press its case at the UN to include them among territories yet to be decolonised.

Meanwhile, Rabat has been accused of using the borders of Melilla and Ceuta as diplomatic leverage to resolve conflicts and seal deals.

In 2021, 8,000 migrants surged across the Moroccan-Spanish border in what was widely seen as a punitive move by Rabat against Madrid for hosting Brahim Ghali, the head of the Polisario Front, a Western Saharan separatist group.

Though, since mending ties last March, Rabat has tightened control over the borders, making the crossing to the enclaves an extremely deadly journey for migrants seeking a better life on the European side.