Spain has rejected renewed Moroccan claims over Ceuta and Melilla, calling the enclaves non‑negotiable. The statement follows comments by Morocco's justice minister and comes after a late‑July border crisis in Ceuta that saw roughly 72,000 migrants enter the enclave and at least 96 fatalities. Madrid praised Moroccan cooperation on repatriations but warned against any repeat of the crisis; Rabat has stepped up border security and urged the return of unaccompanied minors.
Spain Says Ceuta and Melilla Non‑Negotiable After Morocco Reiterates Sovereignty Claims
A member of the Spanish security forces stand guard as a migrant minor from Morocco walks in the water after crossing into Ceuta by sea, amid recent mass crossings of migrants on foot and by sea from Morocco into Spanish territory, in Ceuta, Spain, August 1, 2026. REUTERS/Violeta Santos Moura TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Spanish officials on Wednesday reiterated that the status of the North African enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla is not open to negotiation, after Morocco's justice minister publicly renewed Rabat's long-standing sovereignty claims.
Abdellatif Ouahbi told Asharq TV on Tuesday that Morocco raises the issue of the two cities in talks with Spain and seeks a long-term resolution through dialogue. His remarks were the first public reference from Rabat to the sensitive question since a late‑July border crisis in Ceuta, when an estimated 72,000 migrants briefly crossed into the enclave and at least 96 people died in the mass rush.
Young migrants play with a ball in an industrial area where they are sleeping after crossing on foot and by sea from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, Spain, August 6, 2026. REUTERS/Violeta Santos Moura
Morocco has treated Ceuta and Melilla as territories that should be transferred to Rabat since gaining independence in 1956. Spain, by contrast, considers the two cities integral parts of its national territory, pointing to historical ties dating to the 17th century for Ceuta and the 15th century for Melilla.
“Ceuta and Melilla aren't just Spanish; they're super‑Spanish and cannot be touched,” Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles told reporters in Ceuta, warning that any repeat of the recent border crisis "must never happen again" and calling an attack on the enclaves an attack on Spain as a whole.
FILE PHOTO: Fresh graves lie open following mass crossings by migrants on foot and by sea from Morocco into Spanish territory, in Ceuta, Spain, August 6, 2026. REUTERS/Violeta Santos Moura/File Photo
The Spanish government has publicly praised Moroccan authorities for cooperating on repatriations and placed primary responsibility for the chaotic influx on people‑smuggling networks. Spain's Foreign Ministry said in a separate statement that Spain's territorial integrity "has not been, and will never be, discussed with anyone."
Morocco's Interior Ministry said on Wednesday it had stepped up security along the borders with Ceuta and Melilla after online calls circulated urging another mass crossing on August 15. The ministry warned it would prosecute organizers and participants who foment such attempts and urged people not to be drawn into "suspicious and misleading calls" that could endanger lives. It also urged Spain to speed up the return of unaccompanied Moroccan minors in Ceuta.
Spain said it would consider Morocco's offer to repatriate unaccompanied Moroccan children on a case‑by‑case basis, a position reiterated by Youth Minister Sira Rego last week.
Diplomatic tensions between Madrid and Rabat have risen and fallen over decades, with this latest episode underscoring fragile cooperation on migration and border security even as both governments publicly emphasize continued coordination on repatriations and law enforcement.
Key figures: An estimated 72,000 migrants crossed into Ceuta in late July; at least 96 people died in that rush.
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