German diplomats are currently on a visit to the Spanish enclave, Melilla, to discuss “the closure of the border between Spain and Morocco.”
German ambassador to Spain, Wolfgang Dold, and the German consul in Andalusia, Arnulf Braun, visited the enclave this Thursday, November 25.
According to local news outlet Melilla Hoy, the German delegation, which also included the liaison officer of the federal police, Hagen Horn, met with the delegate of the central government, Sabrina Moh, as well as the heads of the Guardia Civil and the national police of Melilla.
The same source stated that both meetings were focused on the border issue, and collaboration between Spanish and Moroccan security forces, citing the government delegation of the enclave.
The visit’s timing is raising eyebrows, as Morocco’s relations with both countries have been tense since April 2021.
Moroccan Spanish relations were “in recovery,” following the unprecedented diplomatic crisis this June, triggered by Spain’s hosting of Polisario separatist, Brahim Ghali.
Intentions of appeasement have been bilateral and public, but it remains slow to manifest on the ground.
This Wednesday, however, tensions were once again reached as Spain is threatening to destroy a Moroccan fish farm in contested Mediterranean waters.
According to a diplomatic source who spoke to El Pais newspaper, the Spanish government has tried, in recent months, to avoid friction with the Moroccan state, with the aim of overcoming the consequences of the diplomatic crisis.
In addition, Morocco had cut all diplomatic contact with the German embassy in the kingdom, and recalled its ambassador in Berlin, citing “the multiple hostile acts and actions of the Federal Republic of Germany against the higher interests of the Kingdom of Morocco.”
Specifically, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs referred to “the negative attitude of Germany on the issue of the Moroccan Sahara,” and “the continued determination of Germany to combat the regional role of Morocco, especially on the Libyan issue.”
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