Moroccan Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi has renewed Morocco’s claim to Ceuta and Melilla, describing the two Spanish autonomous cities as a “historical and geographical right” of Morocco. In a televised interview, Ouahbi called for a formal dialogue mechanism with Spain to address the future of the territories, with the goal of their “return to the homeland.” He has also been reported as saying Morocco would not retreat from its claimed historical and geographical rights. His remarks come as relations between Madrid and Rabat remain sensitive, particularly following migration tensions at the border.
The claim returned to parliamentary debate in October 2026 after a period of relative official silence. Adil El Bitar, vice-president of Morocco’s House of Representatives, raised it during debate on the government program of Prime Minister-designate Fátima Ezzahra El Mansouri, describing Ceuta, Melilla and the Spanish-controlled islands and peñones off Morocco’s northern coast as part of the country’s “territorial unity.” El Bitar framed the claim as grounded in historical and legal legitimacy and said it should be pursued through national and diplomatic efforts, using peaceful dialogue. Moroccan parties across the political spectrum have also described the territories as occupied, making the issue part of a wider parliamentary debate.
Spain’s institutional position is that Ceuta and Melilla are autonomous cities and integral, inseparable parts of Spain, not territories whose sovereignty is open to bilateral negotiation. The Spanish government has rejected the existence of a sovereignty dispute and has not opened negotiations on the cities’ status. They are also within the EU’s territorial structure, although their EU arrangements include special provisions. Spain’s Ministry of Defence has reaffirmed Madrid’s sovereignty over the cities and their corresponding maritime spaces, rejecting the application of Moroccan maritime laws where they conflict with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Spain’s Minister of Defence, Margarita Robles, echoed the government’s firm stance, calling Ceuta and Melilla “Spanishísimas.”
Morocco’s position on Ceuta and Melilla has remained unchanged since the country’s independence in 1956. The late King Hassan II previously called for a joint reflection group with Spain to discuss the future of the enclaves, but Madrid has consistently declined initiatives to negotiate their sovereignty. Ouahbi’s latest statements coincided with the implementation of a new law regulating the legal profession in Morocco. The wider debate in October followed Morocco’s 23 September legislative elections and unfolded alongside continued discussion of the migration crisis in Ceuta.
The Spanish government said that more than 12,700 people returned to Morocco between 10 August and 20 October 2026 after the Ceuta migration emergency, while most adult migrants remaining in the city were housed in facilities provided by the central government. The child-protection response also continued: by 21 October, Ceuta’s system had attended 3,331 migrant minors. Of those transferred to mainland Spain, 107 moved through family reunification and 181 were relocated to other autonomous communities under Article 35 of Spain’s Immigration Law. These figures show that the effects of the border episode extended beyond the initial arrivals, requiring continued protection and coordination among Spanish authorities.
During the interview, Ouahbi renewed Morocco’s request for Spain to repatriate unaccompanied Moroccan minors who entered Ceuta at the end of July, saying Rabat was prepared to receive them once their identities were confirmed. Migration has repeatedly tested relations between the two countries, as highlighted in coverage of Spain’s diplomatic efforts within the EU, including the government’s push for stronger European support during the Ceuta border crisis, detailed in this analysis of Spain’s response to EU partners.
Ceuta and Melilla, on the northern coast of Africa, have been under Spanish administration for centuries and are considered by Madrid integral parts of the country. Both cities serve as basic entry points to the European Union and have strategic significance for border control and migration policy. The renewed Moroccan claims and Spain’s rejection of any sovereignty negotiation expose the continuing gap between Rabat’s historical and diplomatic framing and Madrid’s legal position. The dispute continues to shape Spanish-Moroccan relations and could affect regional cooperation, as well as the EU’s management of migration and border security.
