On the Spanish radio station COPE, historian Margarita Torres has fervently challenged the historical validity of Morocco's claims over the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla, labeling the arguments put forth by Rabat as "pure fiction" devoid of any documentary support. This commentary follows recent statements from Moroccan Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi, who reiterated the kingdom's "historical and geographical" rights to these Spanish territories, prompting a definitive rejection from Madrid.
During her appearance on the program "La Tarde" on COPE, Torres elaborated on what she considers three millennia of shared history between Ceuta, Melilla, and the Iberian Peninsula, predating the establishment of the modern Moroccan state. She asserts that the Kingdom of Morocco, in its present political form, only emerged in the 20th century, with the Alaouite dynasty adopting the title of King of Morocco as late as 1957. Torres emphasized that historically, both cities were administratively part of the diocese of Hispania, whose seat was in Mérida, rather than under the control of any North African authority, a connection that persisted through the Vandal, Visigothic, and Byzantine eras.
Furthermore, she referred to the Andalusian period, arguing that Ceuta and Melilla were governed by Córdoba, similar to Granada or Almería, and cited the fortification of Ceuta by Al-Mansur in 978 as evidence. Torres pointed out that Ceuta came under Portuguese control in 1415, long before the formation of a unified Moroccan kingdom akin to the current state. "These cities have never, at any point in history, belonged to Morocco," she asserted, expressing concern that contemporary Spanish textbooks fail to mention the Roman province of Mauretania Tingitana in their depictions of ancient Hispania.
Apart from the historical discourse, Torres warned of what she perceives as a gradual expansionist strategy by Morocco, which she correlates with the doctrine initiated by the Green March of 1975. She believes that the pressures at the borders and disputes over territorial waters extend beyond North Africa, ultimately targeting the Canary Islands. "Ceuta is the first step, Melilla the second, and the third is the Canaries," she remarked, alluding to Moroccan claims and legislative initiatives that she finds alarming.
Torres also posited that the strong attachment of the local populace to Spanish sovereignty is rooted in their awareness of the deep historical ties that connect the inhabitants of Ceuta and Melilla to Spain, spanning centuries, if not millennia.
This media appearance occurs amidst heightened tensions between Madrid and Rabat, which have escalated since mid-August due to a series of provocative statements from the Moroccan Justice Minister. On August 11, Ouahbi initially indicated that the matter of Ceuta and Melilla remained "on the table" for discussions with Spain. He reiterated this on August 21, advocating for the establishment of a bilateral dialogue mechanism that he believes should lead to the integration of these cities into Morocco. The Spanish Foreign Ministry has consistently countered these claims, reiterating that the sovereignty of Ceuta and Melilla, as territories of Spain and hence Europe, is non-negotiable.
The backdrop to these exchanges is a significant migration crisis: Spanish authorities reported that approximately 70,000 to 80,000 individuals attempted to breach Ceuta's borders on July 30 and 31, an influx that tragically resulted in the deaths of dozens. While Madrid has commended Moroccan cooperation in repatriating migrants, the underlying territorial dispute continues to strain bilateral relations, with criticism from various officials in the Popular Party, including Melilla's president Juan José Imbroda, directed at Morocco's position.
This controversy also serves as a stark reminder of the historical narratives surrounding other nations in the region. Algeria, which experienced the succession of Numidian kingdoms dating back to the 3rd century BC under rulers like Massinissa and Jugurtha, and its integration into the Roman province of Africa and Numidia, claims a historical continuity that spans thousands of years, well predating colonial rule and its independence in 1962. Such historical precedence is frequently highlighted by Algerian historians and is often cited in regional discussions regarding the historical legitimacy of borders and territorial claims in the Maghreb.
As reported by elwatan.dz.
