Royal Engagements in Ceuta and Melilla
The scheduled visits of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia to Ceuta and Melilla on October 13 and 14 have reignited Moroccan claims over these Spanish cities. Protests have been organized in Castillejos and Agadir, which are located just a few kilometers from the El Tarajal border crossing. The royal visit, commencing in Ceuta, will include institutional events, a visit to a local school, and a tribute to those who lost their lives during the incidents of July 30 and 31.
Protests and Mobilization Against the Royal Visit
The first protest is set for October 14 at 10 AM in Castillejos, coinciding with the royal visit. This demonstration was announced shortly after the Royal House confirmed the travel plans. Additionally, a concentration is planned in front of the Spanish consulate in Agadir on October 13 at 10:30 AM, organized by the National Federation of Maritime Fishing of Morocco, which is associated with the Moroccan Workers' Union. Activists such as Sahrawi figure Taleb Alisalem and influencer Najib Addadi have echoed the call for protests on social media. They describe the planned demonstration as a peaceful citizens' initiative aimed at asserting what they deem to be Moroccan sovereignty over Ceuta and Melilla.
In the context of these protests, Najib Addadi has publicly invited various sectors of Moroccan society to participate, emphasizing the importance of respecting local laws and public order during these mobilizations. The goal is to peacefully express Morocco's territorial integrity and claims regarding both cities. Addadi refers to Ceuta and Melilla as "occupied Moroccan cities," a sentiment that has been widely disseminated through media outlets supportive of the Moroccan regime.
In Agadir, Abdelhalim Seddiki, Secretary General of the National Federation of Maritime Fishing, explained that the union aims to express its opposition to the royal visit. The federation frames this initiative as part of a broader effort to defend the fundamental values of the nation and its territorial unity from Ceuta to Lagouira, a town in southern Western Sahara. The protest will culminate in the delivery of an official letter to the Spanish consul in Agadir, with plans to send another letter to the European Union Delegation in Rabat, outlining their position on the visit and its political implications concerning Ceuta and Melilla. Despite the potential for unrest, reports from the ground in Ceuta suggest that significant mobilization is unlikely, although there have been threatening messages circulating on social media.
The last visit by a Spanish monarch to these autonomous cities occurred in 2007, when King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofía visited, though they did not stay overnight. This previous visit strained diplomatic relations with Morocco, leading the North African country to indefinitely withdraw its ambassador from Madrid.
As the royal visit approaches, Felipe VI and Letizia's agenda will kick off at 12:30 PM at the City Hall near the Assembly Palace and Africa Square, where they will be welcomed by local authorities and greet citizens gathered for the occasion. The internal events will be broadcast live on a screen set up in Africa Square, allowing more people to participate in the royal engagements.
At 4:45 PM, the royal couple will visit CEIP Vicente Aleixandre in the Manzanera neighborhood, followed by an ecumenical service at the Sidi Embarek cemetery at 6 PM to honor those who died at the end of July. The day will conclude with a meeting with representatives of Ceuta’s society at the Parador.
As reported by elespanol.com.
