The silent diplomatic row between Morocco and Spain over Ceuta and Melilla may worsen as the Spanish Defense Ministry considers deploying unmanned aerial vehicles to patrol the borders of the exclaves in northern Morocco. Enlisting airborne surveillance at Spain’s land borders with Morocco aims at reducing the numbers of Spain’s border guards, reports Spanish news website ABC. Last August, a program, worth €1.455 billion, was announced in a report published on the website of the Spanish defense ministry. Spain has installed high fencing topped with razor wire at its land borders with Morocco in its North African enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla. Morocco claims the city along with the other Spanish occupied city of Melilla as an integral part of its national territory.

Source: The North Africa Journal August 17, 2017 15:22 UTC