Item 1 of 3 A member of the Spanish security forces stand guard as a migrant minor from Morocco walks in the water after crossing into Ceuta by sea, amid recent mass crossings of migrants on foot and by sea from Morocco into Spanish territory, in Ceuta, Spain, August 1, 2026. REUTERS\/Violeta Santos Moura TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY<\/p>\n
[1\/3]A member of the Spanish security forces stand guard as a migrant minor from Morocco walks in the water after crossing into Ceuta by sea, amid recent mass crossings of migrants on foot and by sea… Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab<\/a> Read moreOuahbi says Rabat keeps raising claims on enclaves in talks with MadridSpain says no such discussions, Ceuta and Melilla are ‘super-Spanish’Issue raised after July’s mass border rush to CeutaMorocco steps up border \u200bsecurity amid online calls for new mass crossing<\/p>\n MADRID, Aug 12 (Reuters) – The status of the \u200cNorth African enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla as Spanish territories is not up for discussion, Spanish officials said on Wednesday, after Morocco’s justice minister reiterated Rabat’s sovereignty claims over the cities.<\/p>\n Tuesday’s remarks by Abdellatif Ouahbi to Asharq \u200bTV marked the first time Rabat has publicly raised the contentious issue since Ceuta’s border \u200bcrisis in late July, during which an estimated 72,000 migrants briefly crossed \u2060into the enclave. At least 96 people died in the mass border rush.<\/a><\/p>\n Sign up here.<\/a><\/p>\n Ouahbi said his country always raised \u200bthe issue of the cities’ status in negotiations with Spain, with a long-term goal of achieving \u200ba resolution through dialogue.<\/p>\n Since its independence in 1956, Morocco has regarded Ceuta and Melilla as occupied by Spain, arguing sovereignty over them should ultimately be transferred to Rabat. Madrid considers them integral parts of its territory since the \u200b17th and 15th centuries, respectively.<\/p>\n “Ceuta and Melilla aren’t just Spanish; they’re super-Spanish and cannot be \u200btouched,” Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles told reporters in Ceuta when asked about Ouahbi’s comments.<\/p>\n “Any attack on Ceuta and \u200cMelilla \u2060is an attack on Spain as a whole. It must never happen again,” she added, referring to the border crisis.<\/p>\n The Spanish government has largely praised Moroccan authorities for their cooperation in repatriating the migrants, blaming the crisis on people-smuggling mafias.<\/p>\n In a separate statement, Spain’s Foreign Ministry said Spain’s territorial \u200bintegrity “has not been, and \u200bwill never be, discussed \u2060with anyone”.<\/p>\n Separately, Morocco’s Interior Ministry said on Wednesday it had stepped up security near the borders with Ceuta and Melilla over online calls for \u200banother mass crossing attempt on August 15, warning it would prosecute organisers \u200band participants.<\/p>\n “The \u2060ministry calls on everyone to remain vigilant and responsible and not to be drawn into such suspicious and misleading calls, given the risks they may pose to people’s lives,” it said in a statement, \u2060also \u200burging Spain to accelerate the return of unaccompanied Moroccan minors, opens new tab<\/a> in \u200bCeuta.Last week, Spanish Youth Minister Sira Rego said Madrid would evaluate Morocco’s offer<\/a> to repatriate the children on a case-by-case basis.<\/p>\n Reporting \u200bby David Latona and Joan Faus in Spain, Ahmed El Jechtimi in Morocco; Editing by Andrei Khalip<\/p>\n Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab<\/a><\/p>\n