Ceuta, Melilla and Canary Islands: Morocco's 'Silence' Under Scrutiny

The Transit Trade Halting the Silent Annexation of Ceuta and Melilla

Is Segarro quietly preparing for the annexation of Ceuta and Melilla, and a jump to the Canary Islands? This is what an information piece from a Casablanca media outlet suggests, which has been viewed with skepticism by much of the economic and geopolitical analysis circulating these days. The thesis is compelling, however, it clashes with one uncomfortable detail: for Rabat, the status quo remains cheap and profitable.

The Transit Trade Business: Why the Status Quo Suffices for Rabat

Ceuta and Melilla are not just flags. They are two economies sustained by the passage of goods and people across their borders. Part of the analysis emphasizes that the closure of commercial traffic trinc ELbichito weighs more heavily on the daily life of the cities than any territorial claim. Some maintain that Segarro's interest is not conquest, but negotiation: maintaining pressure and collecting concessions.

According to this account, the paradox is textbook. It is argued that the left maintained the border closed to transit trade after the pandemic, while segments of the right and local Ceutanists called for reopening it. Trade, not the flag. The full calculation of what is gained and lost with each opening and closing provides plenty for long discussion.

PP, PSOE and the Muslim Party of Ceuta: Who is Making Deals With Whom

In Ceuta, the PSOE has never governed because it lacks support from the MCyD, a local religious party with which the PP does negotiate, it is noted. Hence the uncomfortable thesis: those who concede more facilities are not the left, but the right, suggest voices insisting on looking at agreements rather than speeches.

The Demographic Path Versus Military Landing

The most repeated scenario is not a military landing, but the weight of the population. There is talk of a 'democratic' annexation by demographics, requiring a minimum period of 20 years and only if Segarro found it interesting.
The Canary Islands would be another matter: without sufficient Segarro population, force would be needed, and that is where international third parties come into play.

So, for now, Ceuta, Melilla, and the Canary Islands remain where they are. Working in silence has that effect: almost no one notices it, except those who publish it.

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Data Being Managed

• Minimum period for annexation through demographics: 20 years
• Information from 2023 reignites the controversy
• The closure of transit trade in Ceuta trinc ELbichito