After a diplomatic crisis and a pandemic that lasted about two years, Morocco reopened its maritime borders with Spain on Tuesday 12 April 2022. This resumption of activities follows the normalisation of relations between the two countries, the Ministry of Transport announced it on Monday evening.
Rabat is reopening its maritime passenger services with Spain, following the normalisation of relations between the two countries. Indeed, Madrid had put an end to nearly two years of diplomatic crisis by recognising the autonomy plan proposed by Rabat on the Western Sahara, a territory claimed by Sahrawi independence fighters. Thus, the port of Tangier will be able to resume normal activity.
In a communiqué, the Ministry of Transport stated that “Shipping companies will gradually resume passenger services between the Moroccan ports of Tangier Med and Tangier City and the Spanish ports of Algesiras and Tarifa. Indeed, ce rétablissement des liaisons entre les deux pays se fera progressivement avec la reprise du trafic régulier des passagers et des autocars et ensuite le 18 avril pour les automobilistes.
A great satisfaction for users
The CEO of the Society of Development for the Reconstruction of the Tangier Port Area (SDRT) has welcomed the resumption of traffic ” We are delighted today to welcome the first ferry from Tarifa to the port of Tangier, after a two-year break. After two years of a pandemic, which affected everyone, including Morocco and Spain, this trip was made possible by the historic agreement between Morocco and Spain..
Before the pandemic and the diplomatic row, the ports of Tangier and Tangier Med received large numbers of holidaymakers each summer when the Moroccan diaspora living in Europe returned home. Thus, more than 3.3 million passengers crossed the Strait via Spanish ports.
Spain and Morocco reconciled
The reconciliation between the two countries was formalized a few days ago in Rabat before the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez. The two neighbouring countries have therefore decided to “inaugurate an unprecedented stage” in their partnership. “We are going to gradually reopen the border crossings to guarantee an orderly flow of people (…) and goods will also circulate normally”, promised the Spanish leader.
This giant step towards reconciliation is in line with Madrid’s decision to align itself with the United Nations, which supports Morocco’s autonomy plan for the disputed Western Sahara region.
