While some predicted that maritime traffic after two years of suspension between Morocco and Spain should resume at the end of Ramadan, others were leaving for a recovery in early April. And if we trust some media of the peninsula, the first ferry would even leave the port of Tarifa bound for the port of Tangier on April 7 according to the Spanish press.
The event in which case, would constitute one suspects it, the official reopening of the maritime borders after an interruption of two years, Dame Covid and a little more, oblige. Moreover, the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares had previously announced the activation of maritime links during the past week. The news was accompanied by the announcement of the resumption of Operation Marhaba (OPE). As a reminder, the Spanish MFA will go to Morocco on an official visit on April 1st.
This had caused certain media to write that the maritime links between the ports of southern Spain and those of northern Morocco of Tangier and Nador as well as the port of Tarajal in the occupied city of Sebta, would soon be resume service.
But neither of the two executives of Morocco or Spain have yet announced a date, discussions are still underway between the two governments for the restoration of maritime traffic between the two kingdoms as well as the reopening of the passage of Sebta and Mellilia. . Still according to the same sources, the forecasts for the reopening indicated the month of April before the end of Ramadan and should initially concern people with an employment contract. This should be confirmed with the arrival in Morocco José Manuel Albares.
This being the case, as soon as Spain’s support for the autonomy plan for the Sahara proposed by Morocco, which it considers to be the solution “the most realistic, believable” to the conflict, the port authorities of the cities of the peninsula serving Morocco are busy and preparing for the return of operations across the strait in anticipation of an imminent reopening. They particularly pamper the preparations for Operation Transit OPE (Spain) or Marhaba on this side of the shore (Morocco).
Coordinated each year between Spain and Morocco, it allows Moroccans residing in Europe to travel to the kingdom via Spanish ports for the summer period. It had been canceled by Morocco due to a health crisis over the past two years.
A period when Moroccans from Europe had to reach Morocco via the ports of Sète in France and Genoa in Italy. This had caused enormous disturbances for our compatriots residing abroad and in particular those in Spain whose community is estimated at more than 800,000 Moroccans and for whom a long detour via France or Italy to return to the Kingdom would have of the warrior’s journey. The consequences had also been disastrous economically for the Spanish and Moroccan port and tourist sectors which, heavy losses had suffered suffocation as a serious setback.
Also, we perceive through the possible news of the resumption of maritime traffic of goods and passengers a good breath of fresh air for the economy of Spanish and Moroccan companies operating in the field. With the thaw and the return of new relations between the two Kingdoms, there are new opportunities for Spain and Morocco to make up for lost time.
As for the figures, for example, it is one million people who travel on average each year with the Marhaba operation only from the port of Algeciras. We can therefore imagine the negative repercussions of a halted activity on the port and transport sector of the entire coastline facing us.