A Moroccan activist is calling for a nationwide protest in Fnideq on October 14, timed with King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia’s visit to Ceuta and Melilla. The demonstration brands the Spanish enclaves as 'Moroccan cities under occupation' and urges peaceful civic action.
Najib Addadi wants Moroccans to show up in Fnideq on October 14. His call comes just as King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia prepare to visit Ceuta and Melilla. Addadi’s message, posted on X, calls the two Spanish-held cities "Moroccan cities under occupation." He urges a peaceful, law-abiding protest just a few kilometers from the border.
This is not just a local issue. Addadi is asking people from all over Morocco to join. He calls it a "civic, peaceful and responsible" stand for Morocco’s territorial claims. He wants the protest to become a "national date" and hopes it will get attention beyond Morocco.
The Spanish Royal Household and government have officially coordinated the visit, but Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez will not accompany the monarchs.
The protest is set for 10:00 a.m. in Fnideq, which Spaniards call Castillejos. The timing matches the Spanish royals’ schedule. Addadi says Moroccan civil society groups should organize and lead the protest. He stresses the need to keep things legal and orderly. So far, there is no sign that Moroccan authorities are officially backing the event.
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia will visit Ceuta on October 13 and Melilla on October 14. This is their first official trip to both cities since Felipe VI became king in 2014. The visit brings back memories of the 2007 trip by Juan Carlos I and Sofía. That visit led to a diplomatic standoff with Rabat. Morocco pulled its ambassador from Madrid for more than two months. Protests and criticism erupted across Morocco.
This time, the Spanish Royal Household and government have coordinated the visit. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez will not join the monarchs. The full schedule is still under wraps.
According to reports from EFE and other Spanish media, Morocco has not issued any official comment on the announcement of the royal visit, highlighting the diplomatic sensitivity of the event. Past visits by Spanish monarchs to Ceuta and Melilla have historically led to heightened tensions and public demonstrations in Morocco, reflecting the ongoing dispute over sovereignty.
Addadi’s push frames Ceuta and Melilla as central to Morocco’s territorial goals. He wants to rally national feeling and civil society around this long-running dispute. The call for a peaceful, organized protest—not a sudden outburst—shows a careful plan for international attention and unity at home. As the Spanish royals get ready for a high-profile visit, the protest in Fnideq shows that the fight over sovereignty is far from settled. The border remains tense.
