HistoryDiff

Morocco maintains that Ceuta (Sebta in Arabic) and Melilla (Mriya) are Moroccan territories where decolonization remains incomplete. In Morocco's view, when the country recovered its independence in 1956, Spain was obligated to return these cities, which had been inhabited by local populations long before colonial rule began. Morocco has consistently advanced this position in international forums—including the African Union and the Non-Aligned Movement—and has called for bilateral negotiations with Spain.

Morocco sharply criticizes what it regards as Spain's double standard: invoking "historical title" to justify its hold on North African territories while simultaneously pressing Britain for decolonization on Gibraltar. Moroccan historians argue that Spain's narrative of Ceuta and Melilla as territories with "a long Spanish history" amounts to nothing more than a legitimization of colonial occupation. Both cities form part of Morocco's geographic and cultural space, and significant Moroccan-origin populations continue to reside there.

Morocco has also expressed a degree of historical interest in the Canary Islands. Drawing on historical ties between the islands and Phoenician and Berber peoples, some Moroccan scholars and politicians have argued that the Canary Islands could similarly be framed as a legacy of Spanish colonialism. However, this claim carries far less weight as an official government position compared to the Ceuta and Melilla question, and it has not become a central focus of diplomatic negotiations.

Morocco and Spain maintain close cooperation on economic matters, migration management, and fishing rights, and Morocco's general approach favors dialogue and gradual normalization over outright confrontation. A diplomatic crisis erupted in 2021 over the Western Sahara issue and became intertwined with a surge of migration into Ceuta, but bilateral relations have since moved toward improvement.

Perspectives Summary