Committee for the liberation of Ceuta and Melilla expands focus to the Sahara, Rif 

The Coordination Committee for the Defense of the Kingdom’s Causes, previously called the Committee for the Liberation of Ceuta and Melilla and known for advocating the liberation of the two occupied cities, is making a strong comeback after being dissolved in June 2014.

This time, the coordination is committed to defending broader national sovereignty issues, including the Moroccan Sahara, as well as fighting against separatism in the Rif. 

It also aims to raise awareness locally and internationally, not only to expose the schemes of those who oppose national unity but also to unite efforts in defending Morocco’s territorial integrity.

The coordination is additionally working to confront hostile voices that exploit ties to the Rif region to spread false narratives, often fueled by Algerian propaganda targeting Morocco and its people, according to an official statement.

Led by former parliamentary advisor Yahya Yahya, the committee stresses the importance of collective action in line with the King’s directives through promoting diplomatic and peaceful efforts to face the challenges to Morocco’s unity and to launch responsible initiatives on the ground.

“The coordination’s recent moves came after Spain’s People’s Party welcomed members of the Polisario separatists since this went against Spain’s new support for Morocco’s autonomy plan,” said political analyst Mohamed Chakir, adding that it also renewed its defense of Morocco’s sovereignty over Ceuta and Melilla.

Although unofficial, Chakir said, the coordination continues to reflect Morocco’s firm position, even if it is not always highlighted for political reasons. 

“The committee represents an unofficial Moroccan position, standing against any Spanish circles that oppose Morocco’s rights over the Sahara or seek to deny the kingdom’s claim to Ceuta and Melilla,” the expert told Hespress English.

He recalled that the coordination was first created to express the late King Hassan II’s position that Morocco would never give up on Ceuta and Melilla.

“Even though Morocco is focused on the Sahara issue, this does not mean it will forget about the two occupied cities,” emphasized the expert, adding that “just as Spain insists on its claim over Gibraltar, Morocco maintains its claim over Ceuta and Melilla.”

During a recent meeting in Fnideq, the National Coordination condemned some Spanish politicians’ actions, particularly the People’s Party, which hosted Polisario representatives at its latest conference. 

They viewed this as a deliberate provocation to undermine the improved relations between the two kingdoms, warning that “such actions risk sparking new tensions in Ceuta, Melilla, and the occupied islands, as they directly challenge Morocco’s territorial integrity.”

The coordination also denounced the ongoing hostility of the Algerian military regime towards Morocco and warned against attempts to exploit members of the Rif diaspora abroad.