Temporary Suspension of Customs Operations Between Morocco and Ceuta and Melilla Amid Reassuring Messages from Spain
Morocco’s decision to halt commercial activity through the Ceuta and Melilla crossings on Tuesday has elicited mixed reactions from Spanish political and economic circles, particularly given the absence of an official announcement from either side, and the ongoing passage of travelers as part of the “Marhaba 2025” operation.
Spanish media sources described the move as “unilateral,” citing Melilla’s mayor, Juan José Imbroda, expressing “concern” over the suspension of activity at the Beni Enzar crossing just six months after its reopening in January. The local official stated that the authorities in Spain were informed of the closure via an email, without elaboration, suggesting a lack of coordination between both sides.
Imbroda linked the decision to previous tensions, recalling the closure of the same crossing in 2018, and criticized what he viewed as a “lack of a clear position” from the central government in Madrid, asserting that “Morocco effectively controls the pace of border opening and closing.”
On the other hand, a spokesperson for the Spanish Foreign Ministry affirmed that the agreement signed with Morocco remains in effect, and that the current closure is “temporary and related to circumstantial arrangements concerning the passage of Moroccans living abroad during the summer.” He added that “customs authorities in both countries continue to coordinate to facilitate movement and organize the passage of goods.”
Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares previously clarified in parliament that the reopening of the crossings is progressing gradually, contributing since January to the movement of 3.5 tons of goods, which he considered part of a broader phase of normalization for the movement of goods and people.
While the government claims that customs are open to all economic actors without exception, commercial entities in Ceuta and Melilla maintain that commercial activity remains limited and fails to meet local stakeholders’ expectations.
Moreover, Moroccan authorities have not issued any official statement regarding the reasons behind the suspension of trade exchanges at this stage, while the “Marhaba” operation continues without interruption, experiencing heavy traffic at crossing ports.
