As Spain faces a major migration crisis, Carles Puigdemont, president of ‘Junts per Catalunya’ and former president of the Generalitat de Catalunya, argues that “Morocco has the right to raise the issue of sovereignty over the two enclaves Sebta and Melilla to set “.
Sebta and Melilla are two African cities, only part of the EU as a legacy of a colonial past that allowed Europeans to own assets outside of Europe, “the former Catalan independence leader wrote on his Twitter account, adding that” Morocco has the right has to raise the issue of sovereignty over these two cities. “According to Carles Puigdemont, the creation of a dialogue table is needed to resolve the conflict.” A dialogue between Spain and Morocco is necessary to address the agenda of disagreements. “, he says. He hopes that” the EU will not be driven by Spanish nationalist incitement “.
The statements of the former Catalan independence leader are reminiscent of the words of the Prime Minister of the Moroccan government, Saadeddine El Othmani, about the status of the Sebta and Melilla enclaves. A few days after the American recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara, he pointed out that the status of the two cities is still in effect after 5 or 6 centuries. The time for issues such as Sebta, Melilla and the Moroccan Sahara is yet to come, he had stated. A statement that triggered a diplomatic incident with Spain. Madrid then asked Rabat for clarification.
From Monday to Tuesday, more than 6,000 migrants, including minors, reached Sebta, plunging Spain into a migration crisis. Morocco has recalled its ambassador for consultations after she was summoned by Arancha González Laya, Spain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation. The tensions between the two countries are far from over.
