At the beginning of 2025, strict Spanish restrictions continue to be imposed on the movement of Moroccans to the occupied cities of Ceuta and Melilla, establishing a reality that reflects the colonial character of the situation in the two cities and deepening the humanitarian and social crisis for the residents of the adjacent areas.
These measures, which have become a systematic policy since the reopening of land crossings following the Corona pandemic, aim to sever the historical and geographical ties between the two cities and their natural Moroccan surroundings, as crossing is no longer limited to passports as it was previously, but is now conditional on obtaining special visas that increase the complexity of the scene. .
These policies have multi-level repercussions, and their effects are most evident in the economic and social damage to the residents of Tetouan and its suburbs, as well as to the residents of Nador and its suburbs.
For many decades, Ceuta and Melilla constituted a major source of livelihood for thousands of Moroccan families who relied on subsistence trade and daily work in vital sectors such as services, restaurants and hotels within the two cities.
But the new restrictions led to these activities stopping almost completely, causing unemployment rates to rise and creating a stifling living crisis for families who did not find sufficient economic alternatives.
The social dimensions of the crisis are no less important, as the Spanish measures undermined family and social ties between the residents of the region and the two cities, as movement that had allowed the maintenance of family relationships and social interaction turned into a complex procedure that imposes restrictions on movement and perpetuates isolation.
This forced separation is in line with policies aimed at reshaping the reality of the two cities away from their Moroccan surroundings, in an attempt to establish a colonial status that reflects a stark contradiction to the principles of good neighborliness and regional cooperation.
Despite previous statements by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs about studying the possibility of easing these restrictions, the continuation of the situation as it is reflects the absence of political will to address this issue seriously.
On the contrary, current policies indicate a systematic effort to isolate the two cities from their geographical and demographic surroundings, which deepens the crisis and turns it into a permanent situation that threatens stability in the region.
In light of this reality, the Moroccan role is highlighted in the search for strategic solutions that enhance economic and social development in the regions concerned, which limits the population’s dependence on activities related to the two cities. Investing in infrastructure and creating sustainable economic alternatives constitute an urgent necessity to confront the humanitarian and social repercussions of these restrictions.
At the same time, this file remains a real test for Moroccan-Spanish relations, and an opportunity to demonstrate respect for the principles of good neighborliness, far from policies that perpetuate a colonial reality that is unacceptable in the context of the modern era.
