Melilla
174 newsStories follow city events, incidents, festivals, road changes, documents, services and neighborhood issues with useful context for residents and visitors.
Spain’s King and Queen Face Moroccan Backlash Over Ceuta Visit
Felipe VI and Letizia will visit Ceuta and Melilla on October 13 and 14, 2026, in their first trip to both Spanish cities. Moroccan state institutions have stayed silent, but a newspaper close to Mohamed VI has condemned the journey and revived memories of the 2007 crisis.
Sanz hands court communications in Ceuta invasion case
Gonzalo Sanz has reaffirmed his account before Judge María Tardón. He handed over messages and call records linked to warnings before the Ceuta invasion.
Morocco stays silent as Spain prepares royal visit to Ceuta and Melilla
Felipe VI and Letizia will visit Ceuta and Melilla on 13 and 14 October, their first official trip to the cities since 2014. Moroccan authorities had offered no official response as of 1 October, while local media framed the journey as a diplomatic test.
Sánchez will not join the Royals in Ceuta and Melilla
Pedro Sánchez will not accompany Felipe VI and Letizia in Ceuta and Melilla. The minister of the day will join the monarchs during their visits on 13 and 14 October 2026.
Spain's King and Queen Set for Long-Awaited Ceuta and Melilla Visit
Felipe VI and Queen Letizia will visit Ceuta and Melilla on 13 and 14 October, just after Spain's National Day. The trip follows a summer border crisis and comes nearly nineteen years after the previous royal visit.
Felipe VI sets first royal visit to Ceuta and Melilla
Felipe VI and Letizia will visit Ceuta on 13 October and Melilla on 14 October. It will be their first trip there as King and Queen, after months of migration pressure on Spain's border.
Esperanza Aguirre: Maricarmen case is a smokescreen for Ceuta crisis
The eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen after seventy years in her Madrid home has set off a fierce political storm. Esperanza Aguirre says the case is being used to distract from Spain’s migration crisis and the future of Ceuta and Melilla.
Feijóo attacks housing record as PP demands power to fix crisis
At a Madrid leadership meeting, Alberto Núñez Feijóo blamed the Government for Spain's housing crisis and called for a change of power. The PP is offering tax cuts, state-backed mortgage guarantees and more than one million homes while preparing for possible elections.
Madrid march targets Sánchez over Ceuta and Melilla
Sociedad Civil Española will march through Madrid on Saturday, 26 September 2026. The group is calling for early elections and accusing Pedro Sánchez of betraying Spain over Ceuta and Melilla.
Drone delays Iberia landing in Melilla
A drone operating from Moroccan airspace delayed an Iberia landing in Melilla on 22 September. Spain has asked Morocco to adjust drone flight levels, while AENA says the airport had no cancellations and did not need to close its airspace.
Morocco records its highest election abstention in two decades
Morocco recorded 61.98% abstention in its legislative elections, with only 38.02% of registered voters casting ballots. The result exposes a wide gap between the registered electorate and the broader population entitled to vote.
Morocco stops renewed mass-entry attempt toward Ceuta and Melilla
Pedro Sánchez praised Morocco's security deployment at Ceuta and Melilla after preventive measures stopped a renewed mass-entry attempt on 23 September. The move followed July's far larger crisis and renewed debate over border control, migrant screening and Spain's responsibility for reinforcing the enclaves.
Morocco posts its lowest legislative turnout in two decades
Only 38.02% of Morocco's registered voters took part in the legislative election. A Tangier arrest and an investigation into a ballot box added pressure on election officials.
Ceuta detains Moroccan terrorism convict barred from Spain
A Moroccan man convicted of terrorism has been detained in Ceuta and expelled to Morocco after police confirmed he was barred from entering Spain. The arrest came as Spain and Morocco tightened security along the border.
Sánchez demands housing decree after Maricarmen eviction
Pedro Sánchez called the eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen a social tragedy and demanded urgent parliamentary action. He blamed Madrid authorities for failing to protect a vulnerable tenant and said the government would bring its housing decree back to Congress.
Morocco votes under the shadow of the Ceuta border crisis
Morocco votes on 23 September as Spain keeps watch on the Ceuta and Melilla borders. Rabat is under pressure after the July crisis and new calls to cross have appeared on social media.
Moroccan activist threatens bloodshed if Felipe VI visits Ceuta or Melilla
Yahya Yahya, head of the Committee for the Liberation of Ceuta and Melilla, has threatened violent resistance if King Felipe VI visits the Spanish-controlled cities. He calls them 'occupied presidios' and signals that protests could follow.
Ceuta and Melilla brace for a sixth mass-entry alert
Spain and Morocco are reinforcing the borders of Ceuta and Melilla ahead of Wednesday. It is the sixth alert since July and has brought extra police units to both cities.
Albares and Bourita to Discuss Ceuta in New York
Spain and Morocco will discuss Ceuta in New York this week. The talks will cover migrant returns, people still in the city and online calls for another mass entry attempt before 23 September.
Marlaska tightens Ceuta and Melilla border ahead of Morocco vote
Spain is reinforcing its borders in Ceuta and Melilla ahead of Morocco's 23 September elections. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska cited social media alerts and delays affecting thousands of migrants and minors.
Feijóo demands a permanent Frontex presence in Ceuta
Feijóo wants Europe to strengthen Ceuta's role at the border. He is calling for permanent Frontex support and faster returns after the July 30 to 31 crisis.
Morocco tightens Ceuta border ahead of September 23 election
Morocco has sent hundreds of officers and four water-cannon trucks to the Ceuta border. The move follows Spanish warnings about social-media calls for a collective crossing on election day.
Morocco tightens the Ceuta border before the legislative vote
Security forces have reinforced the area around Castillejos before Morocco's vote. Spain's embassy has rejected online claims about automatic entry rights, while Ceuta continues to process hundreds of migrant minors.
Puigdemont calls Ceuta and Melilla colonies within Morocco
Carles Puigdemont has questioned Spain's position on Ceuta and Melilla. His remarks come as migration pressures drive a new political clash.
Guardia Civil reinforcements land in Melilla as Spain braces for border rush
Spain has rushed dozens of Guardia Civil officers to Melilla after intelligence flagged a spike in online calls for a mass border crossing. Officials warn the current force may not be enough if thousands try to storm the fence.
Feijoo puts Ceuta and Melilla at the heart of his 2027 plan
Alberto Núñez Feijoo has pledged an integrated strategy for Ceuta and Melilla, including weekly Cabinet attention for both cities. Support from Brussels gives the proposal a broader European framework.
Feijóo pledges a larger security presence in Ceuta and Melilla
More than 3,000 migrants were moved to a temporary port centre in Ceuta. Feijóo promised tighter border controls and additional security forces if elected.
Melilla Day ceremony erupts as minister faces boos and Feijóo wins applause
Tensions flared at Melilla’s official celebration as Minister Elma Saiz was loudly booed while PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo received applause. The city’s president accused Madrid of inaction and demanded the return of undocumented migrants.
Ceuta and Melilla sovereignty claims overshadow migrant crisis in Spain
Moroccan political parties revive sovereignty demands over Ceuta and Melilla. Migrants stranded in Ceuta face harsh conditions. Humanitarian concerns are sidelined as the election campaign intensifies.
Spain to open permanent migrant processing centers in Ceuta and Melilla
Spain plans to open two permanent migrant identification centers in Ceuta and Melilla, each with 800 beds. The goal is to process arrivals more quickly and reduce overcrowding in public spaces.
European Commission sides with Morocco as Ceuta border crisis deepens
The European Commission has publicly supported Morocco after thousands of migrants crossed into Ceuta. Brussels is now urging Spain to speed up returns and tighten border controls, exposing sharp divisions within the European Parliament.
King Felipe commends Ceuta's emergency workers after July border breach
King Felipe has publicly thanked Ceuta’s civil servants and volunteers for their work during the July border breach. His comments highlight the city’s response and the ongoing delay of his official visit.
Ceuta migrant surge exposes government split over intelligence warnings
A mass entry of nearly 80,000 migrants into Ceuta has sparked a political storm. Conflicting accounts over intelligence warnings led to a key resignation. The government insists Spain can defend its borders and uphold international law.
Spanish hauliers face strict deadline for diesel aid claims
Spanish transport companies and self-employed drivers who do not qualify for professional diesel refunds have until 30 October to claim up to €900 per eligible vehicle. The new aid targets those hit hardest by fuel tax changes, with payments scaled by vehicle type and location.
Feijóo pushes for tougher Spain-Morocco policy as Ceuta border crisis deepens
The Partido Popular has unveiled a new stance on Morocco as the Ceuta occupation crisis drags on. Feijóo’s team rejects Madrid’s passive approach and calls for a reset in bilateral relations. The move signals a break with years of Spanish caution.
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