King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain arrived in Ceuta on Tuesday, marking the first visit by a Spanish monarch to the enclave since 2007. The royal couple was greeted by an enthusiastic crowd of around 80,000 residents, who waved Spanish flags and cheered their names. The visit comes at a sensitive time, with Morocco claiming sovereignty over Ceuta and tensions escalating over migration.
The visit is seen as a show of support for the people of Ceuta, who have been affected by a massive influx of migrants from Morocco in late July. Over 70,000 migrants arrived, with many quickly returning, but several thousand remaining. The authorities have set up reception centers, but some people still live on the streets or in surrounding hills. On Sunday, security forces evacuated the last makeshift camp on a beach, where around 400 people were living.
The royal couple's program includes a tribute to those who died during the massive arrival of migrants and a meeting with representatives of civil society. King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia will also visit Melilla, another Spanish enclave on the North African coast, on Wednesday. The visit has been highly anticipated by the people of Ceuta, who see it as a demonstration of Spanish support.
The tensions between Spain and Morocco have been exacerbated by the migration issue, with Moroccan King Mohammed VI recently defending the partnership with Madrid while rejecting any attempts at "pressure" or "blackmail." The visit comes less than seven weeks before Spain's early elections on November 29, with migration expected to be a major campaign theme.
Toñi Jiménez, a 56-year-old nurse, expressed her enthusiasm for the visit, saying that the people of Ceuta had been waiting for it for a long time. She sees the visit as a show of support against Moroccan claims to the enclave. Many residents have been waving Spanish flags and cheering for the royal couple, demonstrating their loyalty to Spain.
The visit has also sparked reactions from experts, with researcher Yassine El Yattioui stating that the royal visit cannot erase the historical memory of Morocco. The issue of Ceuta and Melilla remains a contentious one, with Morocco claiming sovereignty over the enclaves and Spain maintaining its control.
The situation in Ceuta remains complex, with many migrants still living in precarious conditions. The Spanish government has been working to address the issue, but the visit by King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia is seen as a crucial moment in demonstrating Spanish commitment to the region. The royal couple's visit will be closely watched by both the people of Ceuta and the international community.
Key points
- The visit by King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia to Ceuta and Melilla comes amid diplomatic tensions with Morocco over migration and territorial claims.
- The royal couple was greeted by an enthusiastic crowd in Ceuta, demonstrating the loyalty of the enclave's residents to Spain.
- The visit is seen as a show of support for the people of Ceuta, who have been affected by a massive influx of migrants from Morocco.
