Elizabeth Antidius Shumbusho | Africa Guardian
On Thursday, Morocco and Spain took a significant step toward normalizing trade relations with the first passage of goods through the north African exclaves of Ceuta and Melilla since 2018. These small Mediterranean territories, claimed by Morocco, have long been a point of contention in Spanish-Moroccan relations and serve as the European Union’s only land border with Africa.
The closure of the customs post at Melilla in 2018, amid tensions over Spain’s refusal to recognize Moroccan sovereignty over the disputed Western Sahara, further complicated ties. Both border crossings were shut down in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic but reopened in 2022 after Spain supported Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara. However, the Melilla customs post remained closed due to what Spain described as “technical” issues.
On Wednesday, the Spanish government’s representative in Melilla, Sabrina Moh, announced that a first batch of goods had successfully passed through the customs post, marking the beginning of a “new era” of trade. The delivery of electrical appliances will allow Melilla to progressively conduct daily trade with Morocco, Moh explained.
Meanwhile, a lorry passed through the newly established customs post at Ceuta on Thursday. Previously, this crossing only involved people and private vehicles, with commercial traffic not permitted. However, the vehicle was unable to enter Morocco and returned to Ceuta without unloading, as “technical problems” are still being resolved.
Both governments have been tight-lipped about the specifics of the customs post reopening, but the full normalization of trade would implicitly affirm Morocco’s authority in Ceuta and Melilla, a move that would likely have significant political ramifications.
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