the reopening does not benefit Sebta or Melilla
If the opening of the maritime borders with Spain has allowed Tangier to resume normal activities through its two ports with the Spanish cities of Algeciras, this is not the case for the land borders in the North of the Kingdom. The enclaves of Sebta and Melilla remain closed for the time being, with no visibility as to their access or exit, in both directions.
The only land border currently open in Morocco is that of El Guergarate, and it is reserved exclusively for people transporting goods between Morocco and several countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Morocco will therefore reopen its maritime links for passengers with Spain, following the normalization of relations between the two countries and even if motorists will have to wait, until April 18, it is all good for crossing, therefore, unlike land borders. Indeed, in this regard and although murmured here and there and more particularly by the Spanish media or even unofficially by the Spanish authorities, the opening of the borders on Thursday April 14 between Morocco and the presides of Sebta and Melilla to allow the movement of people is not relevant.
No it is not until no official announcement has been made on this side of the shore. However, several media have dared it this Tuesday, April 12. But without the sesame of the Moroccan authorities, the border crossings of Bni N’sar (Melilla) and Bab Sebta (Sebta) will not be free, neither of access nor of exit, to allow the transit of people and goods. No matter how busy we are on the Melilla side to fine-tune the preparations for a possible opening (cleaning, restoration, replacement of the gateway to the city in the Spanish part of “Beni-Enzar”…) or on the Sebta side to gather every Mondays at the Plaza de los Reyes to put forward his grievances (Moroccan workers blocked), for the moment it is the status quo and a situation of “seizure” which dominates.
As a reminder, these two land crossings in question, through which thousands of people pass daily, have been closed to traffic for more than two years (March 13, 2020) to the chagrin of the thousands of workers legally or not employed in the two presides. The first vice-president of the autonomous city and general secretary of the PSOE of Melilla, Gloria Rojas, underlined, during a press briefing, that “iThere is no official announcement” on the reopening of the border and, when it happens, “It will be up to the Spanish government or the government delegation to announce it”. She further urged journalists to “take into account official announcements“.
Gloria Rojas reminded them that the latest announcement, as published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) by the Ministry of the Interior, had decreed the closure of the “border posts” of the two enclaves until April 30 and that until Now and proof to the contrary, no other announcement has come to cancel or replace it. Rumors have, however, made of a possible opening of Beni N’sar in Melilla this Thursday in order to speed up the processing of expired vehicle documents (green card). But it is better to stick to the statements of the person in charge of Melilla, who straight in her boots does not deviate neither from the official framework nor from her subject of the rest. Especially since the official term, faith de dico, means “which comes from a competent, recognized authority”. If an Official Bulletin is not a reference, where are we going? In any case not in Sebta or Melilla which remain the big losers in this little game.
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