Some analysts said that Spain overreacted as Moroccan officials have always considered the cities as occupied and as belonging naturally to Morocco. The economy of Ceuta and Melilla took a hit after Morocco closed its borders over Covid-19 concerns. The Moroccan economy loses up to 12.5 billion dirhams annually to smuggling originating from the Spanish occupied cities of Ceuta and Melilla while Spain gains 700 million euros in profits. A diplomatic frost develops whenever a senior Spanish official announces a visit to the occupied city. Morocco claims the city along with the other Spanish occupied city of Mellilia as an integral part of its national territory.

Source: The North Africa Journal December 24, 2020 02:48 UTC