Morocco demands return of Moroccan minors in Spain, justice minister says

Morocco is demanding the return of Moroccan children and minors currently in Spain, including those who recently arrived in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta and others staying in care centers, Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi said.

“We remain committed to recovering our children and minors in Spain,” Ouahbi told Hespress AR, stressing that Morocco is not prepared to abandon Moroccan children and adolescents.

The minister said Morocco would pursue the issue through both legal and political channels and held Spain responsible for the fate and living conditions of Moroccan minors who are separated from their families and their home country.

“Morocco will demand its children back, legally and politically,” Ouahbi said.

He said the strength of Morocco-Spain relations and the high level of cooperation and coordination between the two countries should lead to an immediate solution that allows the minors to return to their families and Morocco while preserving the partnership between Rabat and Madrid.

Ouahbi argued that the best environment for the children’s future is with their families and in their home country.

“Morocco is not prepared to abandon its children, young people and adolescents,” he said, adding that the position applies to all Moroccan minors concerned by the issue.

The minister reiterated that Morocco wants all of its children returned and that any solution should prioritize their interests, their future and their right to return to their families.

The issue comes as Moroccan and Spanish officials have been holding consultations over the legal and institutional mechanisms for addressing the situation of Moroccan minors in Spain, including procedures to verify their identities and facilitate their return to their families.

Ouahbi has previously described Spain as a friendly country and stressed the importance of maintaining relations between the two countries. He has said that legal and institutional cooperation, along with direct dialogue, is the appropriate way to address issues related to migration and unaccompanied minors.